Since the funeral of sole coroner candidate Tommy Hedgepath, election and party officials have been hashing out the details of the upcoming coroner's election.

Hedgepath, who was chief deputy coroner, was the only person running for the elected seat and had filed as a republican.

The election commission initially ruled that there would be special election with candidates only being able to file as republicans.

This decision was appealed to the state Attorney General's Office, who ruled on Wednesday that candidates of either party could file to run in the special election.

Candidates wishing to run for the coroner position will have from noon on June 10 until noon on June 17 to file with either party.

Currently, the special election date is scheduled for July 1. But Republican Party chair Alan Gardner has appealed the election date and requested it be held after July 15.

Gardener says he does not think that it is fair for poll workers to work the week of July 4 and that the holiday week is a bad time to hold an election.

In the meantime, Coroner James Smith is in the process of deciding who will take over as chief deputy coroner. He plans to discuss Hedgepath's successor with County Council on Wednesday.