Baylor University political science professor Gayle R. Avant added his name to a pool of candidates vying in a special election for the State Senate seat recently vacated with the resignation of Kip Averitt, R-Waco.

Gayle Avant, 69, of Waco, has spent decades at Baylor teaching courses on the U.S. Constitution, American government and economics. He plans to retire this summer.

Avant, 69, of Waco, has spent decades at Baylor teaching courses on the U.S. Constitution, American government and economics. He plans to retire this summer.

“I look forward to putting into practice what I’ve taught all these years,” Avant said in a news release.

Three Republicans — Lt. Col. (Ret.) Brian Birdwell, former State Sen. David Sibley, and Burleson businessman Darren Yancy — have already announced their intention to run in the special election, which will be held May 8.

Avant became the only Democrat to throw his hat into the ring.

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

He added that he’d stand out in a field that includes “two very conservative Republicans” and “a former Austin utility lobbyist,” referring to Sibley’s work as a lobbyist after he left the Senate.

The winner of the special election will serve the remaining 8 1/2 months of Averitt’s term.

Candidates for the general election, however, will be determined by Democratic and Republican county party chairs from across the 10-county district.

Chairs from each party will have the opportunity to select a candidate for the November ballot.

Avant described himself as a Democrat in the mold of longtime Congressman W.R. Poage, who served from 1937 to 1978.

Poage was elected as a New Dealer, campaigning for rural electrification and telephone service during the 1930s and 1940s.

Avant also pointed to examples of retirees and Baylor professors who he said served admirably in Austin.

“Former McLennan County Republican (Party) chair M.A. Taylor retired from Central Freight and well-served us in the Legislature, as did former Baylor political science head A.P. Cagle,” he said.

Both men served in the state House — Taylor from 1985 to 1993, and Cagle from 1933 to 1939.

mshapiro@wacotrib.com

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