With less than a year until the midterm election for congressional seats, 5th District Republicans are preparing to narrow the pool of candidates from six to one.

On Dec. 12, party leaders will meet in Appomattox to decide how to choose the party's candidate for next year's race against Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Albemarle County.

The 32-member district committee will choose among a primary, a convention or a party canvass. Less common, a party canvass is run like a primary, but only certain polling places are open. The canvass would be run by the party whereas a primary is handled by the state, 5th District GOP Chairman Tucker Watkins said. The chosen procedure will take place in May or June.

Those vying for the party's nod include state Sen. Robert Hurt of Chatham; Kenneth Boyd, a member of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors; Jim McKelvey, a Franklin County businessman; airline pilot Mike McPadden; Feda Kidd Morton, a high school biology teacher from Fluvanna County; and Laurence Verga, a Charlottesville businessman.

Bradley Rees, who announced this summer that he would run for the GOP nomination, withdrew and will run as an independent.

In the past, the district has used both the primary method and a convention to choose candidates.