From a current city council staffer, to a retired postal worker, the field of candidates for District B is varied. But perhaps no one is stirring up more controversy than a 31-year-old with a criminal record.
Phillip Paul Bryant is like any other District B candidate. He's eager for your vote, but what he's not eager to talk about is his arrest in August for driving with a suspended license.
"Why were you arrested in August?" we asked him.
"I don't want to talk about that, I want to talk about issues," he replied.
"But if you want to be an elected official, don't you think that's important?"
"No, I want to talk about what's important to the community."
It is just one factor voters will have to weigh as they look at this crowded field to replace term-limited Houston Councilman Jarvis Johnson. His long time aide Alvin Byrd is also on the ballot.
"We have a great opportunity right now to do something that's never been done in the district before; we have a opportunity for succession and continuity," Byrd said.
Candidate James Joseph runs a non-profit.
"I trained, oriented and find jobs for youth and young adults in the community," Joseph said.
While Jerry Davis is probably most known for owning a part of the popular family restaurant The Breakfast Klub.
"District B has never had a business owner, community activist, as well as a visionary; we have anyone to lead with a vision as far as bringing more jobs," Davis said.
Also on the ballot are Bryan Smart, Charles A Ingram and Kenneth Perkins. Out of a field of eight, there is only one female candidate, retired postal worker Kathy Blueford-Daniels. She says she will focus on cleaning up the illegal dumping, and abandoned homes that plague District B.
"I've been very, very active in the community for a very long time; our streets needs repair, we have a lot of abandoned buildings that have been neglected," Blueford-Daniels said.
KTRK political consultant Dr. Richard Murray says with so many candidates and low voter turnout, it's hard to predict who the front runners are.
"Hard fought fight up on the northeast side. It's a heavily African American district, but I don't have any idea who's going to make the run offs in that race," Murray said.
District B represents most of northeast Houston. We expect the top two vote getters to go to a run-off in December.
