Edmond “Ed” Davis, a former professor at Arkansas Baptist College and the executive director of a school applying for a charter in Southwest Little Rock, will announce the formation of an exploratory committee for a campaign for the Little Rock city director Ward 7 position. Brenda “B.J.” Wyrick has held the position since 1994.

Davis is following the lead of presumptive mayoral candidates state Rep. Warwick Sabin (D-Little Rock) and banker Frank Scott, who each formed exploratory committees to raise money before the June 1* starting date allowed by city ordinance for contributions to candidates for city office.

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Davis is the founder of Aviate Through Knowledge Productions, whose mission is “to promote a higher quality of life within the underserved communities by aviating through knowledge.” Aviate Through Knowledge is the sponsoring organization for the Prolific Learning Arts Academy, for which Davis is executive director. Prolific Learning Arts applied in 2017 to put a charter at 6210 Baseline Road, the former American Taekwondo Association Building but saw its application denied by the state Charter Authorizing Panel. Davis has said he will reapply.

He’ll announce his exploratory committee today at 3 p.m. at Uni-Tee Graphics and Designs, a T-shirt business he owns at 10101 Mabelvale Plaza Drive.

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Davis, the author of “Pioneering African-American Aviators Featuring the Tuskegee Airmen of Arkansas,” has a B.A. from Grambling State University and a Master’s degree from Louisiana Tech University. He’s taught at the University of Phoenix, UA-Pulaski Tech, Arkansas Baptist and UA-Little Rock. He worked at Covenant Keepers Charter School and promotes a program called “RESPOND-I-BILITY.”

On LinkedIn, he says, “We need to de-educate and re-educate all Americans especially minorities of color on ways to avoid most negative interactions with Law Enforcement Officers (L.E.O.). What you don’t know can get you hurt, fined, jailed or worse as this resource show everyone how to ‘respond-responsibly. Let us come to your towns, schools, communities or churches.”

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*This post has been updated to correct the date when city candidates can officially begin campaigning.

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