Seven Albert Leans have filed for the open Freeborn County 5th Commissioner District seat.

The deadline to file was at 5 p.m. Wednesday. The candidates for the seat are:

Chad T. Hayson, 930 Lincoln Ave., Albert Lea, filed Wednesday afternoon.

Marilyn A. Roche, 531 Meadow Lane, Albert Lea, filed on Tuesday.

Hugh O’Byrne, 72897 220th St., Albert Lea, filed on Monday.

Tony Pestorious, 69831 190th St., Albert Lea, filed on Nov. 8.

Curtis Smith, 1302 Southview Lane, Albert Lea, filed Nov. 3

Mike Lee, 2141 Kenneth Drive, Albert Lea, filed Nov. 3.

Doug Conn, 1500 Seath Drive, Albert Lea, filed Nov. 3.

Nov. 3 was the first day of filing. Smith, Lee and Pestorious ran for the position in 2008.

The field of seven will be narrowed to two in a special primary election on Jan. 18.

A special general election will be March 15. The seat was vacated Aug. 1 by Linda Tuttle, who resigned.

Tuttle is accused of using her company, Albert Lea Abstract Co., to divert money into her own accounts to pursue an alleged gambling addiction. She was scheduled to appear in Freeborn County District Court on Nov. 12 but the hearing was canceled and a potential plea agreement is on the table.

She is facing 12 counts of felony theft by swindle, along with one count of racketeering.

Tuttle won the seat in the 2008 general election by defeating Lee on a vote of 1,752 to 1,548. Tuttle and Lee had survived the 2008 primary election by beating Smith, Pestorious and Chad Severtson.

The 5th District consists of Pickerel Lake Township plus Albert Lea’s 3rd and 6th wards.

Freeborn County Auditor-Treasurer Dennis Distad said the term will begin on March 28, 2011.