@NCCapitol

Former NC commerce secretary announces bid for US House

Former state Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco is throwing his hat in the ring as a potential 2014 opponent to Republican 2nd District Congresswoman Renee Ellmers.

Posted 2014-01-06T03:00:02+00:00 - Updated 2014-01-06T21:14:15+00:00

Former N.C. Department of Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco

Kelly Gardner

and

Matthew Burns

Former state Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco formally announced his bid for Congress Monday.

Crisco, a Democrat, plans to run against Rep. Renee Ellmers, a Republican representing North Carolina's Second Congressional District.

"We need representatives in Washington who will focus on the important issues facing the country," he said in a statement. "Leadership is the ability to bring people together, to work to find consensus and forge government policies that make life better for the people across the Second Congressional District."

Crisco,70, served as commerce secretary under former Gov. Bev Perdue.

"At my age, I'm running to go to Washington and focus on a few key issues and work to find solutions – not develop a long-term political career," he said. "I would like to serve two or three terms and come back home knowing that I have served our nation and made a difference in the future of our children and grandchildren."

Durham attorney Houston Barnes also has filed for the Democratic nomination in the 2nd District, while Frank Roche, a conservative Internet talk show host from Cary, plans to oppose Ellmers in the Republican primary.