A special election has been scheduled Dec. 29 to fill the vacancy in the Leeward-Ewa City Council district seat vacated today by Todd Apo.

Apo announced in late August his plans to resign today and take a job as public affairs manager in Hawaii for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

The deadline to file nomination papers with the City Clerk’s office to run for the seat is Nov. 19.

The special election is expected to be held by an all-mail ballot similar to the special elections to fill vacancies on the Council created by the deaths last year of Barbara Marshall and Duke Bainum.

A special election is needed because there is more than a year left on Apo’s term, which expires Jan. 2, 2013.

Also today, the Council swore in Reed Matsuura to fill the vacancy created by last week’s resignation of Donovan Dela Cruz, who was elected to the state Senate. Matsuura, an aide to Dela Cruz, fills the final remainder of the term which expires Jan. 2.

Acting City Community Services Director Ernie Martin won the election to fill Dela Cruz’s seat.