D is for Diversity: Candidates in the race for District D

This is the third in a series of posts on upcoming City Council races. Check out last week's post about District I and District E and keep reading Houstonist for campaign coverage.

There's no shortage of interest in the city council seat that Ada Edwards, District D's representative, will vacate due to term limits after this election. District D includes Neartown/Montrose, Midtown, and part of the Third Ward, as well as other neighborhoods. Local businessman Gerald Womack, who gave Edwards a hard time as her opponent in 2001's election, bowed out of the race in January, because he believes that he can do more for his community in the private sector. Womack founded Womack Development & Investment Realtors, a 100-percent minority-owned business.

So who are the other candidates in the field? Rev. Michael Patrick Williams, who left his position at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in the 1980s and now serves on the Board of Trustees for Houston Community College, is looking at the race. So is Cheryl Armitige, a Houston real estate agent. She grew up in the Third Ward and is a past president of the Washington Terrace Civic Association. She has recently spoken out about options for the east end of Metrorail's upcoming and controversial University Corridor.

Rounding out the list of candidates are Lawrence Allen, Jr. and Wanda Adams. Allen is the son of state Rep. Alma Allen (D - Houston). He is an educator himself and is now a member of the state Board of Education. Adams is a city employee. She works in the Mayor's Citizens Assistance Office and has recently been involved with Go Green Houston.

Four candidates with good credentials and experience in public service should make for an interesting race. We'll see how things unfold come November.