San Diego – Former pro basketballstar and NBA sports commentator Bill Walton endorsed Scott Peters for Congress in front of dozens of volunteers at the Peters headquarters this morning. Walton, a San Diego native, is currently the Executive Chairman of Connect SD Sport Innovators. He was in 2009 named one the top 50 sportscasters of all time and is also nationally recognized for his philanthropy. He has received the NBA Retired Players Humanitarian Award and just yesterday completed a 620-mile cycling journey down the California coast to benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation.“Congress is mired in gridlock because too many of our elected leaders are more concerned with party politics instead of with finding solutions,” said Walton. “I’ve known Scott and his work for years and I know him to be a different kind of leader. He’s a great man with an extraordinary abundance of integrity and credibility. He’ll put the people of San Diego first,” he added.Walton, an independent, is one of the leaders of the Movement to the Middle that formed in the spring of this year after Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher left the Republican Party to become an independent. Fletcher is also backing Peters over Bilbray. “Bill was a world-class athlete, and he’s an extraordinary San Diegan who has used his celebrity to do great things for our community,” said Peters. “He has a huge heart to match his stature and personality and he’s put these traits to good use toward helping others. I’m honored to have his support.”Walton made the endorsement in inspiring, heartfelt remarks in front of a group of about 35 volunteers who were headed out to walk precincts for Peters, lead by San Diego City Councilman Todd Gloria, who has also endorsed Peters candidacy.Peters is running in California’s newly drawn 52nd Congressional District to unseat 12-year incumbent Brian Bilbray. For more information about Scott’s campaign to change Congress, go to speters2014.gethifi.com.
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