Justin Doud/Houston Public Media

The crowded field of candidates vying to fill an open Houston City Council position offers a wide range of options for voters heading to the polls on Nov. 4. The candidates boast diverse professional backgrounds, they have a range of policy priorities, there are huge disparities in campaign fundraising — in one case fueled by out-of-state donations — and some individuals have checkered criminal and financial backgrounds.

"This is all about name recognition, and it’s about money," said Brandon Rottinghaus, professor of political science at the University of Houston. "The candidates who are going to succeed are going to be the ones who are more front and center, who’ve got more eyeballs on their issues and on their profiles, and the ones who can get enough

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