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Special Election Date Set For Vacant Fattah Seat

by Kim Glovas

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has set the date for a special election to fill the Congressional seat now left vacant by the resignation of Chaka Fattah.

Governor Wolf made the announcement less than two weeks after Congressman Fattah resigned from office.

"Governor Wolf issued what is called a Writ of Election, setting a date of November 8th 2016, for a special election to fill the currently vacant 2nd Congressional District, and November 8th is the same date as the general election," said the Governor's spokesman Jeff Sheridan.

Sheridan says one of the main factors in determining the date was how much money it would cost.

"Holding a special election on a different date than the general election, at this point, would have cost taxpayers well over $1.2 million and we didn't want to have them have to foot that bill. So holding it on the same day as the general election means the cost will be negligible or no cost at all," he said.

Congressman Chaka Fattah, an 11-term congressman, resigned his seat on June 23rd after being convicted on 22 counts that included racketeering conspiracy, bribery, and fraud.

His sentencing is scheduled for October.

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