AUSTIN (March 17, 2010)—Gov. Rick Perry Wednesday called a special election on Saturday May 8 to fill the remainder of the term of State Sen. Kip Averitt, R-Waco.

That’s the same day city council and school board elections will be held.

Averitt health-related resignation from the Senate was effective Wednesday.

Candidates must file no later than 5 p.m. on April 7, Perry’s order said.

Early voting will run from April 26 to May 4.

Former State Sen. David Sibley of Waco, who represented nine of the 10 counties in Senate District 22, said Wednesday he plans to run for the remainder of Averitt’s term.

The district covers Bosque, Coryell, Ellis, Falls, Hill, Hood, Johnson, McLennan, Navarro and Somervell Counties.

The winner of the open election will serve only until January 2011, when Averitt’s term expires.

Republican and Democratic Party chairs from each of the district’s 10 counties will meet to select candidates for the November ballot.

Perry also called a May 8 special election to fill the Texas House Seat of Rep. Terri Hodge, D-Dallas,

Hodge pleaded guilty in February to federal charges stemming from an alleged bribery scheme and resigned from office.

Federal prosecutors said Hodge, 69, pleaded guilty in Dallas to fraud and false statements on an income tax return.

She faces as much as three years in prison, a $100,000 fine and restitution to the IRS.