Small town mayor vying for U.S. Senate

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – One of U.S. Sen. Richard Burr’s challengers stopped by WWAY today.

Chris Rey is the mayor of Spring Lake in Cumberland County. The Democrat hopes to win the March 15 primary against three other Democrats to get into the Nov. 8 general election.

Rey said what separates him from Burr, and many other lawmakers in Washington, are his humble beginnings.

“So, they don’t know about stretching that pay check maybe over or past the 15th to hopefully cover the other bill,” Rey said. “I don’t believe they understand that, and that perspective is needed in Washington.”

Rey said he hopes to take that perspective to make more policies that level the playing field, and give more Americans a chance at success. He added that his other priorities include national security, education, jobs, and veterans issues.

According to his campaign website, Sen. Burr has served for 11 years. North Carolina’s state election website shows he is up against Larry Holmquist, a businessman, Paul Wright, a former Superior Court judge, and Greg Brannon, a 2014 Republican Party candidate who lost in the primary to Thom Tillis.

There are three other Democrats running in the primary with Rey. They are Kevin Griffin, CEO of Avant Group, Deborah Ross, a former NC State representative, and Ernest Reeves, a retired U.S. Army captain.

Sean Haugh, a pizza delivery man and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2002 and 2014, is running as a libertarian.