Who will succeed Ed Kuempel?

After Representative Kuempel passed away there was an immediate scramble to fill his seat (link). Excerpt follows...

Ten, count 'em, 10, candidates are in the running to replace the late Rep. Ed Kuempel (R-Seguin) in a special election.

Kuempel died two days following the general election, following a bout of heart complications. Gov. Rick Perry announced Dec. 14 (a Tuesday) as the date of the special election for HD 44 (Guadalupe, Gonzales, and Wilson counties), and the filing deadline was 5 p.m. Monday.

They are, according to the Texas Secretary of State's office:

• Daniel Rodriguez Andrade (D), 45, of Seguin, a real estate business owner.

• Ron Avery (R), 63, of Seguin, an architect.

• Chris Burchell (R), 46, of Adkins, a law enforcement officer.

• Jim Fish (R), 53, of Cibolo, an entrepreneur.

• Tony Gergely (L), 51, of Seguin, a chemist who owns a laboratory which produces chemicals for commercial fishermen.

• Gary W. Inmon (R), 43, of Schertz, a private practice attorney and president-elect of the Texas Association of School Boards.

• John Kuempel (R), 40, of Seguin, a salesman and son of Rep. Kuempel.

• Myrna McLeroy (R), 72, of Gonzales, an oil and gas landman, a former State Republican Executive Committeewoman.

• Cheryl Dees Patterson (D), 44, of Seguin, a real estate agent.

• Robin R. Walker (R), 58, of Seguin, a self-employed business manager who challenged Rep. Kuempel in the GOP primary, drawing 25 percent.

Early voting is scheduled from Nov. 29-Dec. 10. Candidates from all parties will appear on the same ballot. If no candidate receives a majority, a runoff will follow about a month later.

I have heard that John Kuempel and Robin Walker are the top candidates, but why wouldn't some of these other candidates be formidable too?