Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Pflugerville, hasn’t left the Legislature yet, but there’s already a list of candidates to replace her when she resigns on Jan. 10, triggering a special election. Former Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole has said she’ll run. Repub­lic­an Gabriel Nila (who Dukes beat handily on Nov. 8) again threw his hat into the ring. The race got more interesting when attorney and former Workers Defense Project chair Chito Vela announced. His entrance could split Austin’s Democratic establishment: Cole has the backing of former colleague Mike Martinez, while Vela received a tweet of support from Education Austin Vice President Montserrat Gari­bay. Filling out the scrum, DWI attorney and professional self-publicist Adam Reposa said he’ll also file.

This article appears in November 18 • 2016.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.