MYRTLE BEACH The filing peirod to fill Tom Rice’s former seat as chairman of the Horry County Council begins Friday and runs through Jan. 28. — So far, three well-known area leaders have announced their intentions to run: businessman Mark Lazarus, Councilman Al Allen and former chairman Liz Gilland.

The special election will fill the seat left open when Rice was elected as the 7th Congressional District’s new U.S. representative in November.

A primary election is scheduled for March 12, followed by the April 30 general election.

The person elected will fill a term that expires in 2014.

Contact reporter BRAD DICKERSON at 626-0301. Follow him on Twitter @TSN_BDickerson.