State Rep. Evandro Carvalho has decided not to seek re-election as he pursues the Suffolk County District Attorney post, leaving his Fifth Suffolk seat open and already the subject of early interest.

Three Democrats have already pulled papers for the Fifth Suffolk, according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office -- Brad Howze, Roy Owens, and Ceferina Murrell -- as has an unenrolled candidate, Steven A. Wise.

Murrell was chief of staff for former state Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry.

“I am strongly considering stepping forward as a candidate for State Representative in the Fifth Suffolk district,” she said in a statement Tuesday.

“Since the news of Rep. Carvalho’s decision to seek the office of Suffolk County District Attorney, I have received a significant number of phone calls and messages from neighbors, colleagues, civic leaders and activists who have encouraged me to consider this opportunity to make an impact for my community in the state Legislature,” she said. “I was born and raised in Upham’s Corner— in the heart of the Fifth Suffolk— and I am committed to public service.”

Carvalho has held the Fifth Suffolk seat since 2014, when he won a special election to replace former state Rep. Carlos Henriquez.

Howze pulled papers for the seat in 2014 as part of the pack looking to replace Henriquez, though he did not qualify for the ballot.

According to public records, Howze is a Dorchester resident and a convicted Level 3 sex offender for a 1999 charge of rape and abuse of a child under 14. He identifies himself as a pastor with the New Sinai House of Prayer.

He appears to have some affiliation with perennial candidate Roy Owens, who came in last in the 2014 democratic primary for the Fifth Suffolk special election and has pulled papers for this year’s race.

The address Howze provided to the state in seeking nomination papers lists the New Sinai House of Prayer on East Cottage Street, though the address listed with the Sex Offender Registry Board lists an address owned by Owens and identified as the location of his "Save The Children Ministries.” Owens did not return request for comment by press time.

Steven Wise sought the District 7 city council seat left open by former city councillor Tito Jackson as he ran for mayor in 2017, coming in last out of a field of 13 candidates in the primary.

Candidates have until May 1 to collect and submit 150 signatures for certification to make the ballot. The state primary is Sept. 4.