Special Election - May 9, 2009

Nine candidates with various backgrounds will face off in a May 9 special election for Houston City Council District H.

By BRADLEY OLSON Copyright 2009 HOUSTON CHRONICLE
March 4, 2009, 4:21PM

The seat was vacated when former councilman Adrian Garcia resigned to become Harris County sheriff.

The list of candidates seeking to take his place was as noteworthy for those on it as the one who was not. Karen Derr, a prominent realtor who was seen as a potentially strong candidate from the Heights, missed the filing deadline. So, although she already had raised money, held events and promoted her candidacy in a blog and on her business Web site, she will not be in the race. Derr did not return a call for comment.

The order on the ballot, which was determined by a drawing according to a longstanding tradition set up by the city secretary, is as follows: Edward “Ed” Gonzalez, Lupe Garcia, Gonzalo Camacho, Hugo Mojica, Larry Williams, Maverick Welsh, James Partsch-Galvan, Yolanda Navarro Flores and Rick Rodriguez.