WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Catawba County, N.C., Sheriff David Huffman entered the race for North Carolina's open 10th Congressional District seat Monday.
Huffman said he was running to bring "a strong Christian voice" to Washington.
Other Republicans running for the seat, which is being vacated by retiring GOP Rep. Cass Ballenger, are former Corning Cable System President and Chief Executive Officer Sandy Lyons, Carolina Mills board Chairman George Moretz and state legislator Patrick McHenry. State Sen. Austin Allran, also a Republican, said Monday he would not be a candidate for the seat.
Caldwell County resident John Cole, described in press accounts as "an ex-hospital supervisor," is running as a Democrat for the seat, considered by most to be heavily Republican.
The district went for George W. Bush over Al Gore in the 2000 presidential contest by 70,000 votes. Ballenger easily won re-election the last time with 59 percent of the more than 230,000 votes cast.
