Sen. Rodney Ellis

Sen. Rodney Ellis

The Houston Chronicle reports that Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) intends to seek the Harris Co. Commissioner’s Court seat held by the late El Franco Lee, who passed away on January 3. Harris. Co. Judge Ed Emmett is expected to announce Lee’s temporary replacement later today, but Ellis is not expected to receive that interim appointment.

Because the deadline to remove a name from the primary ballot has passed, Lee will remain on the Democratic primary ballot. No other candidate filed for the race, as would Ellis’s.

Reps. Garnet Coleman (D-Houston), Borris Miles (D-Houston) and Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston) are rumored to be leading candidates to replace Ellis, should he seek the commissioner’s court seat. Miles may have an edge because of his ability to self-fund his campaign.

We’ll have more on this as it develops.

Updated (11:55 a.m.): Emmett appointed former city attorney and 2009 mayoral candidate Gene Locke to serve until December 31, 2016. Locke said he does not intend to seek a full term in November. Locke lost the 2009 runoff to Annise Parker, 54%-46%. He has also served as a special council to Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris Co. and general counsel to the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority.