National Human Rights Campaign Backs Peters for Congress

 

San Diego –The Scott Peters for Congress campaign proudly announces today that the national Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has endorsed Peters in the race for the 52nd Congressional District against long-time House member Brian Bilbray.

 “Scott Peters has spent his career fighting for equality,” said HRC Vice President of Programs David Smith.  “Scott is a proven leader and will be an amazing advocate for all families in the Halls of Congress.”

The Washington, D.C.-based Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the largest organization in America dedicated to fighting for equality for people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered.

“Scott Peters has been a vocal ally of the LGBT community, including leading the San Diego City Council in its support of marriage equality,” said Joel Trambley, co-chair, Human Rights Campaign San Diego.

“HRC’s local leaders are excited to help him defeat an incumbent who has a proven anti-LGBT record with a string of zero percent ratings on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard for six years. Scott Peters' victory will not only mean another Congressional ally but also will be a critical part of returning a fair-minded majority to the House of Representatives," said Trambley.

Founded in 1980, the HRC’s mission is to advocate for the LGBT community—working to end discrimination, elect fair-minded representatives, and fight for equal rights in the workplace.

Their endorsement is the latest impressive endorsement Peters has secured in this race, including the support of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which recently selected Peters’ campaign for the highly competitive ‘Red-to-Blue’ program.

For more information about Scott, go to www.scottpeters.com.

Community Condemns Attempted Repeal of Living Wage Ordinance

 

Thursday, July 5

10:00 a.m.

Outside the San Diego Convention Center (South End)
One Park Boulevard at Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101

After hoteliers orchestrate takeover at the San Diego Convention Center, troubling signs that city law and workers’ livelihoods may be threatened.

WHAT:           
A press conference where labor and economic leaders will explain concerns over discovery that the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau (ConVis) has explored the possibility of exempting Convention Center workers from San Diego's living wage ordinance. Thousands of San Diegans rely on the living wage and must know that the city's leaders remain 100% committed to upholding the rule.

EVENT:          
Speakers will condemn an attempt to create an exemption to San Diego's living wage ordinance through a new sales and marketing agreement between the San Diego Convention Center Corporation and San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau. They will outline the absolute necessity of San Diego's living wage laws and call on our leaders to not only adhere to the law, but never treat the rule or the principle as negotiable. The topic sets a troubling tone as ConVis begins to take over Convention Center bookings on behalf of hoteliers who have already tested the limits of the law more than enough.

WHO:              
Lorena Gonzalez, Secretary-Treasurer/CEO, San Diego Labor Council
Clare Crawford, Executive Director, Center on Policy Initiatives
Dion Davila, Food Service Worker, San Diego Convention Center. 

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Statement from Scott Peters on the 48th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act

 

San Diego – Today, on the 48th Anniversary, of the Civil Rights Act, Scott Peters, candidate for the 52nd Congressional District, released the following statement:

“During this campaign, I’ve talked a lot about my dad, Harvey Peters. I’m thinking about him today as our nation celebrates the 48th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, which outlawed discrimination on the basis of race and gender. It was an historic piece of legislation, but the work didn’t stop there; my dad helped continue the fight as a minister and civil rights leader who fought against housing desegregation in the Detroit suburbs in the late 1960s.

“From his work, he became friends with Martin Luther King, Sr., and they preached at each others' churches to encourage tolerance and unity.  He taught me and my sisters that civil rights and equality for all are paramount – there is no room for compromise. It is up to all of us to stand up for the rights of others. These are the values that drive my commitment to public service.

“Today, I honor all the men and women who fought, and even died, fighting for these protections for all.”

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Community and Labor Leaders Call for Fair Trade, Not Free Trade Agreement at San Diego TPP Negotiations

 

Amid continued closed-door discussions, labor, environmental, consumer, and social justice organizations rally to bring jobs back home to America

WHAT:          
Broad coalition of labor and community groups will join Congressman Bob Filner and Lorena Gonzalez to speak out against the ongoing, secretive trade agreement known as TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) negotiations taking place in San Diego on July 2-10, 2012. A press conference and community rally calling for fair trade kicks off the first day of TPP talks.

EVENT:         
Leaders will call on trade officials from the United States, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam to share details of this trade agreement that has been held almost exclusively behind closed doors. This NAFTA-like deal will also include Mexico, Canada, Japan and, potentially, China, Russia and India among other Pacific Rim nations in the future, so we must ensure that America stops giveaways to big Wall Street banks, shipping jobs overseas, attacking worker rights, and eroding environmental protections, all in the name of “free trade.”

WHO:             
Congressman Bob Filner, California 51st District; Lorena Gonzalez, Secretary-Treasurer/CEO, San Diego Labor Council; Arthur Stamoulis, Citizens Trade Campaign; and speakers for: Machinists Union, UNITE HERE Local 11, Environmental Health Coalition, Union de Barrio, Canvass for a Cause, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Green Party, Occupy San Diego, Af3rm San Diego, Anakbayan, Women Occupy, Activist San Diego, Friends of the Earth.  Bob Filner, Lorena Gonzalez and Arthur Stamoulis will be available to speak with media.

WHEN:          
Monday, July 2, 2012
12:00 p.m.

WHERE:        
Outside the Hilton Bayfront Hotel, One Park Drive, San Diego, CA 92101

Protest Rally to welcome the Trans Pacific Partnership to San Diego

 

Hilton San Diego Bayfront
One Park Blvd.
San Diego, California 92101
Monday, July 2nd
Noon 

The Trans Pacific Trade Agreement is a massive trade agreement that will offshore American jobs, attack environmental protections and consumer safety policies, and deregulate Wall Street banks, hedge funds, and insurance companies. Representatives from corporations and other countries will be negotiating the TPP in San Diego.

Join Labor and Community groups for a kick-off press conference and protest rally Monday, July 2nd in the park adjacent to the Hilton Bayfront Hotel.

In the last decade, more than 50,000 manufacturing facilites have closed, 6 million manufacturing jobs have been lost and the U.S. trade deficit has grown. And we've seen outsourcing spread to other sectors, like call centers and financial services.

If we want to rebuild our economy, we need to stop sending good American jobs offshore.

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Statement from Scott Peters on SCOTUS Decision: Americans Will Benefit

 

San Diego, CA - Earlier today, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision upholding the majority of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  In response to the Court's decision, Scott Peters, candidate for Congress in California's 52nd District, released the following statement:

"I know we all watched with anticipation as the Supreme Court issued its decision earlier today.  In affirming the President's health care insurance reform initiative, the Court reminded us that the powerful health services industry does not control the administration of health care.  That control rests firmly in the hands of doctors and patients.  The President's health care reform initiative is not perfect, but it's a good start.  We still have a lot of work to do to ensure that care is affordable for all consumers and small businesses.  But under the Affordable Care Act, and over time, Americans will benefit from critical patient protections, increased access to the care they need, lower costs, and greater accountability for the insurance and pharmaceutical industries.

"Now, it's time for Congress to stop focusing on politics, put partisanship aside, and work together to increase every American's access to quality and affordable health care.  If there are improvements we can make, let's make them.  If there are fixes we need, let's fix them.  Unfortunately, Brian Bilbray and the extremists in Washington have already indicated that they will spend the remainder of the current Congress' time focusing on repeal of the new law, without offering any real alternative, rather than looking for ways they can improve health care and revive our still struggling economy.

"Over the course of his 12 years in Congress, Brian Bilbray has accepted over $1,000,000 in campaign contributions from powerful interests in the health services industry, including pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies. Time and again, he has protected them, even as they block coverage for people who are sick and deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions like asthma, heart disease, or cancer.  That's not what our government ought to be about.

"The fact is, this legislation increases access to quality care, lowers the cost of prescription drugs, extends the solvency of Medicare, and puts the administration of health care in the hands of doctors and patients.  Contrast that with the priorities of my opponent.  Brian Bilbray has publically stated his support for privatizing Social Security, and just this past spring, Bilbray voted for the Ryan Budget, which would have effectively ended Medicare as we know it.

"Brian Bilbray's priorities are clear: he is on the side of drug companies and insurance companies and not the American middle class.  We need common sense leadership in Congress to work with doctors and patients to make quality health care affordable and available to all."

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Statement of California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton on U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Upholding Affordable Care Act

 

The highest court in the land has upheld the historic Affordable Care Act passed by a Democratic Congress and signed into law by President Obama. Millions of Americans are already experiencing the benefits of the law and more stand to benefit still in the near future.

Meanwhile, Mitt Romney and Congressional Republicans continue to talk of repealing the law instead of focusing on strengthening our economic recovery and making sure Americans have good jobs here at home. The reaction from the Republican House leadership and their calls for a full repeal are another reminder that Democrats’ work is far from done and reforms won’t be fully protected until we win back the House and return the Speaker’s gavel to Nancy Pelosi.

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Official Statement by the San Diego Labor Council on the Supreme Court’s Affordable Care Act Ruling

SAN DIEGO - San Diego Labor Council Secretary-Treasurer/CEO Lorena Gonzalez made the following statement in response to today’s Supreme Court ruling on the Affordable Care Act:

“We can all join in applauding the Supreme Court for standing up for the Constitution and the well-being of millions of Americans whose access to health care was threatened. In the face of intense pressure from corporate special interests, we can now move forward with ensuring that every American has access to affordable health care, strengthening our families, our businesses, and our communities.

“This is a critical opportunity to provide local families more purchasing power and affirm that lack of access to health care will no longer be a barrier to success. It's now up to our state legislature to make sure that these programs are implemented in the best way possible.”

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San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council 

The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO represents more than 192,000 union workers in the region and advocates for an economy with more jobs, better jobs and better lives for all workers in the region - union and non-union. 

www.unionyes.org     

Koch Brothers Bring Shadowy Summit to San Diego

 

While an elite group of major conservative donors meets this weekend at an undisclosed San Diego-area location (story in Politco), members of the Democratic Party, organized labor, the Occupy movement, and other groups will protest the Koch brothers event with rallies Saturday night and Sunday morning downtown.

WHAT:  "Koch Hunt" Rally and March

WHEN:  Saturday, June 23, 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, June 24, 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Children's Park, Downtown San Diego (1st & Island)

Republican financiers Charles and David Koch are reportedly on track to raise and spend at least $400 million this year on behalf of conservative political causes. Aided by the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling -- which opened new avenues for unregulated campaign spending -- their activism on behalf of the corporatist agenda shirks public scrutiny and subverts the laws and standards that have governed American elections for decades.

The latest in a series of highly secretive summits the Koch brothers and their related organizations have held to raise funds and plan their operations, the conference in San Diego this weekend also calls attention to connections of local Republican politicians with the Koch world. For example:

* Ten years ago, Republican mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio was the "director of government redesign" for the Reason Foundation, a right-wing think tank that received millions in funding from the Koch brothers and other conservative interests.

* Americans for Prosperity, a conservative group founded by David Koch, bestowed a glowing 95% approval rating on Congressman Brian Bilbray in 2010 in recognition of his support for corporate special interests, including the oil and tobacco industries.

* Already ideologically aligned with Congressman Darrell Issa in their staunch opposition to regulating or reforming Wall Street and the energy and healthcare industries, the Koch network has funneled more than $200,000 in recent years to members of the House Oversight Committee, which is led by Issa.

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Not What It Seems

ECPAC Foundation to Submit Plan to the City of El Cajon to Save the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC)

Plan will reopen the Theater before the El Cajon Centennial Celebration this Fall and charts a course including phased renovation of the venue

EL CAJON, CA (June 20, 2012) – After objecting to plans of the City of El Cajon to demolish the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) and build a hotel on the site in March, the community came together and united around the goal of saving the theater, forming the “ECPAC Foundation.”

It will submit a proposal to the City of El Cajon on Thursday, June 21, 2012 to save the theater rather than tear it down.

The organization will hold a press conference at El Cajon City Hall, 200 Civic Center Way, at 3:00 p.m. to outline their proposal to the media, and then submit their extensive plan to operate the theater to the City Manager at 3:30 p.m.

Of most interest to the public is the fact that there is a reasonable way to save the ECPAC theater from demolition for perhaps 10% of the $4.3 million cost suggested by consultant Kurt Swanson in his March 2010 “Conceptual Business Plan.” The Foundation also proposes they they can run the theater without a required direct monetary subsidy from the City, unlike former managers.

“We really don't want to see the theater demolished or closed, especially during the November 2012 centennial celebration of the City of El Cajon,” said Ray Lutz, Founding Chair of the ECPAC Foundation. “We toured the theater in April to discover what it would take to open it up again, and we found the proposal by Swanson to be far from reality. Instead of $4.3 million, we figure it can be reopened for about $400,000 in repairs, maintenance, and renovations – only about 10% of his grandiose plan. Our plan is practical and feasible, and covers many items that his plan simply forgot.

“The developer Neal E. Arthur was able to get the city to agree to negotiate with him on an exclusive basis for six months to discuss how the theater can be torn down and replaced with a 'four star hotel.' We want the same chance to negotiate with the city on why it is best to simply repair and reopen the theater. Fair is fair.”

The main business points of the proposal state that the theater would be realigned from a pure “Performing Arts” venue to an “Arts and Entertainment” venue and pick up more mainstream acts that may not fit into a more ritzy venue. It will emphasize concessions, including beer, wine, and cocktails, and it includes a phased renovation plan to steadily improve the venue, signage, and other surrounding spaces. Although the Foundation does not propose getting a mandatory subsidy from the City, they do propose that the utilities be picked up by the city, as they have for all other theater managers, and that the City may wish to fund specific projects or rent the theater for events.

“The big difference in our proposal is that we're saving the City the $350,000 annual subsidy previously paid to Christian Community Theater,” said Paul Kruze, a Foundation Board member, professional trumpet player, and media personality. “We feel CCT offers great programs for children to learn to sing, dance, and act, but as the manager of the theater, they did not come through with the headliner schedule the community was hoping for. We can do better, and we can do it without a direct subsidy.”

The entire proposal is approximately 60 pages and can be found here:
http://www.copswiki.org/Common/M1269

Since the Foundation has had limited access to the theater and has not had a chance to fully investigate all issues, the Foundation board decided to include a disclaimer in the document to allow the Foundation to continue to investigate these details after the City has agreed to move forward with negotiations.

If the City agrees to negotiate with the Foundation, the plan will be improved to include the actual costs to fix the theater. The Foundation plans a Gala Fundraiser this summer to reach out to supporters, artists, and even theater management and production companies who may want to rent or help run the theater.

“This is the best organizational type for such a theater,” said Lutz. “This theater was originally funded and put into place by the tax-payer and by the blood, sweat and tears of performing arts supporters. It must stay in the public domain and must not be turned over to private developers.”

The ECPAC Foundation is an offspring of the SaveECPAC project of Citizens Oversight  Projects, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Until the Foundation secures its own nonprofit status, it can be sponsored by this parent organization and accept tax-deductible donations. Until the plan is approved by the City, the Foundation is accepting pledges for future donations that will be accepted at the Gala Fundraiser event planned for this summer.

Statement of California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton on President Obama’s Policy Announcement to Halt Deportation of DREAM Act Eligible Youth

 

President Obama took smart, decisive action by allowing talented young people who are making great contributions to our nation to remain here without the threat of deportation looming over them. Many of these young Americans were brought to this country as children by parents who sought a better life and greater opportunity for their children.

While this new policy is a temporary measure, in the absence of Republican action in Congress, it represents a fair, efficient, and just approach working from within an immigration system in desperate need of reform.

The President’s actions stand in stark contrast to Mitt Romney’s continued waffling on yet another signature issue as he has refused to say whether or not he would overturn this effort, should he to be elected President.

Republicans have spent years demagoguing on the issue of immigration and no doubt find it difficult to support any reform measures, no matter how just or sensible they may be.

This is just one more reason why it is imperative that we re-elect President Obama in November.
Peace and friendship,


John Burton

Chair

California Democratic Party

California RNs Kick off Healthcare Tour in San Diego Today, with Screenings and Town Hall

 

California RNs Kick off Healthcare Tour in San Diego 6/19, with Screenings and Town Hall

 

Local stats show great need for healthcare overhaul—22% of adults uninsured, 13% of adults unable to see a doctor due to cost

With the U.S. Supreme Court decision expected imminently on the fate of the 2010 healthcare law, nurses, physicians, and healthcare activists will begin a three-week tour of California cities Tuesday as a reminder that the healthcare crisis continues to worsen and genuine, comprehensive reform is still needed.

Beginning in San Diego on June 19 and ending on July 12 in Anaheim, the Medicare for All tour will crisscross the state with stops in nearly two dozen sites. It will feature basic health screenings and town hall meetings where community members will be invited to tell their healthcare stories.

The focus of the events is a call to step up the drive for guaranteed, universal, cost-effective health reform once and for all by expanding and updating Medicare to cover everyone regardless of age. The tour kicks off in San Diego on Tuesday June 19 and will run through July 12 in Anaheim.  The Medicare for All tour will crisscross the state with stops in nearly two dozen sites.

WHERE:    

St. Paul’s Cathedral, 2728 6th Ave, San Diego, CA 92103

WHEN:

Health Screenings        3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.                   

Town Meeting               6:30p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Protest Rally to welcome the Trans Pacific Partnership to San Diego

 

Hilton San Diego Bayfront
One Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101
Monday, July 2, 2012
12:00pm

The Trans Pacific Trade Agreement is a massive trade agreement that will offshore American jobs, attack environmental protections and consumer safety policies, and deregulate Wall Street banks, hedge funds, and insurance companies. Representatives from corporations and other countries will be negotiating the TPP in San Diego.

Join Labor and Community groups for a kick-off press conference and protest rally Monday, July 2nd in the park adjacent to the Hilton Bayfront Hotel.

In the last decade, more than 50,000 manufacturing facilites have closed, 6 million manufacturing jobs have been lost and the U.S. trade deficit has grown. And we've seen outsourcing spread to other sectors, like call centers and financial services.

If we want to rebuild our economy, we need to stop sending good American jobs offshore.

Official Statement by the San Diego Labor Council on President Obama’s Announcement on Deferred Action for Immigrant Youth

 

SAN DIEGO - San Diego Labor Council Secretary-Treasurer/CEO Lorena Gonzalez made the following statement in response to President Obama’s announcement earlier today:

“Working families in San Diego applaud the Obama Administration’s announcement to provide relief from deportation to immigrant young adults brought to this country by their parents at an early age. These are some of San Diego's best and brightest, and the President’s actions allow them to finally live without fear of separation from their families and deportation to a country they barely remember. This talented group of young Americans was educated here and has been working to build a better community for all of us. Beginning today, they can come into the open to pursue their dreams right here, where they call home. San Diego will be stronger for their extraordinary contributions and I commend this administration for its courage and leadership in taking an important step towards a more just America.

“Today's announcement is an encouraging step in beginning to address our nation’s dire need for comprehensive immigration reform. We call on San Diego’s elected officials to work towards a common sense solution that will address the parents and families of these young people.”

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San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council

The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO represents more than 192,000 union workers in the region and advocates for an economy with more jobs, better jobs and better lives for all workers in the region - union and non-union.

www.unionyes.org         

Scott Peters Earns Spot in DCCC’s Competitive 'Red to Blue' Program

 

San Diego, CA – The Scott Peters for Congress campaign today announced that Peters has earned a spot on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s (DCCC) highly competitive Red to Blue program. Peters is running in the new 52nd Congressional District to unseat entrenched Republican incumbent Brian Bilbray. He was selected for ‘Red-to-Blue’ because he has surpassed demanding fundraising, organizing, and infrastructure goals and successfully demonstrated to voters that he is a problem-solver who will protect the middle class when elected to Congress.

“As a former City Councilman and Port Commissioner, Scott Peters has built a solid reputation as a problem solver who gets things done. In Congress, Scott will stand up for California’s seniors and middle class, and San Diegans can trust him to fight for them rather than special interests and Big Oil companies,” said DCCC Chairman Steve Israel.

“I’m honored by the great support we’ve earned during our campaign from people who agree the 52nd needs a representative in Washington who will stand up for working families, protect Medicare and Social Security and reignite the American dream,” Peters said. “Being named to Red-to-Blue means we have the support, confidence, and momentum it takes to win in November.”

The DCCC’s Red to Blue program highlights top Democratic campaigns across the country, and offers them financial, communications, grassroots, and strategic support. The program will introduce Democratic supporters to new, competitive candidates in order to help expand the fundraising base for these campaigns.

The newly drawn 52nd Congressional District is a classic swing district - a third Republican, a third Democrat and a third other, or Decline to State.  It supported candidate Obama by 12 percentage points in 2008, but also candidate Meg Whitman by eight points in 2010. It is impossible for any candidate to win this seat without broad-based support across party lines. Since he was the first Democrat elected to represent City Council District One, Peters has consistently drawn support from across the political spectrum. He has support from progressive Democrats, worker advocates, moderate Democrats and Republicans, business leaders, and independent San Diegans who care more about results than pure party politics. 

For more information, or to get involved, go to www.scottpeters.com.

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San Diego Janitors To Announce Ratification of Contract; Publicly Thank City Officials For Mediating on Their Behalf

San Diego, CA - San Diego janitors will be holding a press conference to thank the City and some of its elected leaders for their support and encouragement during contract negotiations.  After months of negotiations, marches, rallies, pickets, a city resolution and a hunger strike, San Diego area janitors fought back against San Diego’s most profitable commercial real estate and biotech companies – and won.

“For more than two months, the bargaining committee met with contractors who resisted wage increases and health care for our families,” said María Aldama, member of the bargaining committee and janitor for 5 years.  “We are proud of what we accomplished and will continue to do what we have to for our families.”

For over 20 years, janitors have fought hard to raise industry standards and improve wages and benefits so that their families can live a better life.  In 2012, 30,000 of USWW’s 40,000 members’ collective bargaining contracts expire, including the 1,800 office, tech and biotech janitors from San Diego and Inland Empires.

WHAT: 
Press conference to announce ratification of new contract, and thank city leaders for standing by the janitors.

WHEN: 


Tomorrow, Friday, June 15, 2012 at 11:45AM.

WHERE:
Civic Center Plaza

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Correction of Previous Statement on CD 52 Race

San Diego County Democratic Party Chair Jess Durfee has issued the following statement after his earlier remarks due to an incorrect media report on the 52nd Congressional District race:

"Based on an incorrect headline in the UT and erroneous information from other sources, earlier this evening I issued a statement that incorrectly said that Lori Saldaña had conceded the primary election in the 52nd Congressional District.

"I fully respect the decision made by the Saldaña campaign to allow the vote count to continue before making any announcement about the outcome of the election."

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Congressional Candidate Lori Saldaña made the following statement today:

“Many thanks to the thousands of people who supported my Congressional campaign by volunteering, contributing and casting votes for me on June 5.

“We worked hard and garnered praise and admiration from people in San Diego and around the nation. You all helped make it a battle for the record books that has been “too close to call” for the past week.

“As the final tallies are completed, I congratulate the winners in all the primary campaigns and look forward to supporting my fellow Progressives who will continue their efforts this fall.

“I ran because Congressman Brian Bilbray has assisted in the dismantling of the middle class and I still urge his defeat this fall. But I also encourage every candidate to reject shortsighted "reforms" that actually hurt working people and commit to the more challenging task of creating long-term, systemic change at every level of government.

“This is what is needed to help middle class people today and to ensure that more people will join their ranks in the future.

“Recent reports on the near-catastrophic loss of working families’ wealth and savings show clearly that we are not the reason this country is in tough economic times. We did not cause the financial markets to collapse, and we are, in fact, the canaries in the economic coal mine, showing what happens when elected leaders at every level fail to take bold action to turn the economy around.

“I thank my supporters for their dedication and commitment an effective, powerful and unabashedly Progressive grassroots effort. There is still much to be done- in and out of elective office- and I look forward to continuing to work with you in San Diego.”

Lori Saldaña

Peters Campaign Readies to Go Head to Head with Entrenched Republican Brian Bilbray

San Diego, CA – At 5 p.m. today the San Diego County Registrar of Voters announced that Scott Peters is now ahead of Lori Saldaña by 737 votes, with only 13,500 left to count, making it apparent that Peters will be the Democrat to take on entrenched Republican incumbent Brian Bilbray in the new 52nd Congressional District.  The Peters campaign is now readying for the bigger fight ahead.

“It’s no secret that Congress is broken,” Peters said. “But San Diegans have an unprecedented opportunity to help fix it by sending new representation to Washington.”

“This is a critical election and the voters now have a clear choice,” he said. “They can choose a Washington insider who votes to guarantee tax breaks for oil companies instead of guaranteeing Medicare for our seniors. Or, they can vote for a common-sense, problem solver who will protect Medicare and Social Security and has a track record of creating jobs and standing up for working families.”

“When government doesn’t work, it hurts the middle class -- the backbone of our economy, and the core strength of our country,” he added. “I am backed in this race by regional and national worker advocates because they know I share their values, and that I’ll fight for them, not the corporate special interests backing Bilbray.”

Peters added that while he is now focused on the Nov. 6 General Election, he is tremendously grateful to everyone who supported him in the primary.

“I am extremely proud of the campaign we ran, of my team, and of the army of volunteers who gave us their time and energy,” said Peters. “In the end, we knew this race would be decided by turnout, and our volunteers worked tirelessly walking, knocking and calling to turn out our voters. As we saw, every vote mattered.  I’m very, very grateful.”

Peters also congratulated his Democratic opponent in the primary for running a rigorous, energetic grassroots campaign.

“I congratulate and thank Lori Saldaña for running a tough, dynamic campaign,” said Peters. “It absolutely helped sharpen our focus for the bigger fight ahead.  We share a common goal of replacing Brian Bilbray, and together, we’ve proven with our combined votes, it’s doable,” he said.

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