Karen Derr made her treasurer's report filing on Thursday last week, becoming at least the second candidate for District H to do so. I know that Maverick Welsh has filed his report, and I know that as of Friday, Ed Gonzalez had not yet done so but would likely do it this week. Beyond that, I don't know anyone else's status. I think I may place a call to the City Secretary's office this week to inquire about who has filed, and to ask why I can't find that information online. It sure would be handy to have. I've reproduced a press release from Derr's campaign beneath the fold. I figure with the opening of fundraising season a week from now, we'll start to get a lot more action on this front.

In the meantime, I heard a report on Saturday that former HPD Chief and candidate for District Attorney CO Bradford is contemplating a run for an At Large City Council seat. Isaih Carey has now blogged about this - he's looking at At Large #4, currently held by Ron Green, for which Noel Freeman has already filed his papers. As with all such contemplations, this may turn out to be nothing, but Bradford has been talked about as a citywide candidate before, and he would clearly be a strong contender for that seat. So we'll see what happens.

One more report I heard on Saturday, which Carl Whitmarsh reminded me of in an email he sent out about his birthday party, which is where I heard both of these things, is that there's another contender looking at District A: attorney Jeffrey Downing. He joins Bob Schoelkopf in expressing interest in that seat, and if Carl's reaction is any indication, he'll get the bulk of the Democratic support for that race. Which, as I've said, is enough to make a race of it in that district. This is going to be a fun year.

On local entrepreneur Karen Derr's 50th birthday her husband Robert Derr made her lifelong dream a reality. He delivered his designation as treasurer for her campaign for City Council District H Position to City Hall. With the special election expected to be called by city council next week, Karen Derr, broker for Karen Derr and Associates, is ready to gear up her campaign. A celebration and toast to changes ahead in the new year was held [Thursday] night at the firms office at 1545 Heights.

Bio:
Largely due to her creative approach to business and a strong work ethic instilled in her by her parents, Karen Derr is now able to devote herself to her lifelong dream of public service. For the past 15 years Karen Derr has owned a successful business headquartered in the Houston Heights. She and her company have relocated clients to homes in all the diverse neighborhoods which make up District H. She has worked volunteering and supporting community efforts concerning education, crime prevention, business development, hike and bike trails, historic preservation, animal welfare, and the arts. As a City Councilwoman she would work to enhance the quality of life for District H residents by focusing on these areas of concern full time. Karen is also committed to a hometown that recycles on a larger scale and is more energy efficient.

Karen Collins Derr is a longtime resident of District H and currently resides in the Houston Heights. She is the founder and broker for Karen Derr and Associates Realty which has four offices in Houston and Galveston. The firm is almost 15 years old and listed in the top 25 residential real estate companies in the greater Houston area according to the Houston Business Journal. She is a successful business woman who is often asked to speak about diversity in the workplace, the Houston real estate market, small business marketing and other topics affecting Houston businesses. She has a special interest in entrepreneurship and small business concerns, having owned four small businesses in her life if you count the fireworks stand she and her sisters had at the age of 14.

Karen servers or served in the following positions...

Board member with the Houston Association of Realtors
Board member with the Texas Association of Realtors
Board member with the Houston Heights Association
Board member of Opera in the Heights
Steering committee of the White Linen Night in the Heights
Co-chair of the Houston Heights Association Education Committee

Karen was born in New Braunfels Texas. Her mother retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone and worked at the Ashland office in the Heights for many years. Her father retired from the city of Houston as the Director of Airfield and Grounds at IAH, but he had served as the Assistant Airport Manager, the Chief of the Airport Police and as a City of Houston warrant officer. She comes from a long line of police officers. Karen has lived in the greater Houston area since the second grade, attending Katherine Smith Elementary in Oak Forest, Black Junior High, Conroe High School, North Harris County College and the University of Houston. Her husband and business partner of 15 years is Robert C. Derr, Jr.

Robert Derr - Treasurer/Karen For Houston City Council
http://www.KarenForCouncil.org
713-875-7049