WS Chronicle

By GARY D. ROBERTSON

Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. — The mayor of a small North Carolina town near Fort Bragg is running next year for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Richard Burr.

Spring Lake Mayor Chris Rey unveiled his candidacy Monday, Sept. 21, with website and Facebook postings. Rey’s decision marks the first Democrat to announce among a handful of current or former elected officials looking at a Senate bid.

The 38-year-old is a National Guard officer previously on active duty in the Army and has served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Rey says if elected he would work to fully implement health care reform, lower the small business tax rate and promote public education and veterans’ assistance.

Any primary elections appear slated for mid-March. Republicans in the legislature want to move the primaries up from May.

Rey distributed an email seeking donations as he announced his bid on Monday.

He has visited Winston-Salem in an effort to gain support for a run for higher office. A reception was held at The Enterprise Banquet and Conference Center for him in April, sponsored by the Friends of Chris Rey. No one specified a higher office at that time.

Chronicle Managing Editor Donna Rogers contributed to this report.