Gov. Rick Perry has set a special election for Jan. 6 for voters to elect a new representative for state House District 17, which includes Bastrop, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes and Lee counties. Two Republicans, two Democrats and one independent candidate are vying for the seat recently vacated by Rep. Tim Kleinschmidt, R-Lexington. Republican candidates include John Cyrier, who works as a general contractor, and Brent Golemon, an entrepreneur. Ty McDonald, a pastor, and Shelley Cartier, a Realtor, are the Democratic candidates running for the seat. Linda Curtis, a community organizer, is running as the independent candidate. In November Kleinschmidt won re-election with 64 percent of the vote, but he has since decided to take a position as the general counsel for the Texas Department of Agriculture. Early voting will begin Dec. 29.