Five candidates are running to fill the seat vacated by disgraced former councilman Anthony Davis, according to the city clerk’s office.

Candidates are: Veronica Ovalles, Alveria Spencer, Michael Jackson, Manny Martinez, and Bernard Jones, Jr.

Spencer and Martinez submitted the most petitions. Martinez submitted 380 petitions while Spencer handed in 484.

A popular school board member, Martinez handily won re-election in 2012 while being the highest vote-getter. This year, he is following the well-trodden path to the city council, by throwing his hat into the November 3rd, 2015 special election.

In 2013, Spencer, a social worker, unsuccessfully ran for a school board seat.

Jones and Jackson ran unsuccessfully for at-large council seats during the 2014 municipal elections.

The winner of the special election will succeed pro tem 1st Ward councilman James Staton who was appointed by the city council last December.