WACO (March 21, 2010)—Gayle R. Avant, a longtime professor of political science at Baylor University, announced Saturday that he’ll run as a Democrat for the remainder of the term of former State Sen. Kip Averitt of Waco who resigned last week for health reasons.

Gov. Rick Perry has called a special election on Saturday May 8 to fill the remaining 10 months of Averitt’s term.

Retired Army Lt. Col. Brian Birdwell of Granbury and former State Sen. David Sibley of Waco earlier announced they will run as Republicans.

Avant, who said he plans to retire from Baylor this summer, announced his candidacy Saturday at Democratic conventions in McLennan and Johnson Counties.

"Having decades of service at Baylor and experience teaching the Constitution, American Government, government regulation of business, public administration and economics, I look forward to putting into practice what I've taught all these years,” Avant said.

“I'm a Jeffersonian Democrat in the mold set by long-time Congressman W. R. Poage,” he said.

“It seems to me that independents and Democrats ought to have an alternative on the ballot.”

The district covers Bosque, Coryell, Ellis, Falls, Hill, Hood, Johnson, McLennan, Navarro and Somervell Counties.

The winner of the open election will serve only until January 2011, when Averitt’s term expires.

Republican and Democratic Party chairs from each of the district’s 10 counties will meet to select candidates for the November ballot.