Port Commissioner Scott Peters Announces Run for Congress

Scott Peters, the port commissioner and former San Diego councilman, announced Monday that he will run for Congress and challenge incumbent Republican Brian Bilbray.

"Some of our representatives have worked within the Washington, D.C., Beltway for so long, they've forgotten they work for the people back home," said Peters, who calls himself "a common-sense Democrat."

When California's congressional districts were redrawn earlier this year, Bilbray's seat was shifted south from the North County and now runs roughly from La Jolla to Poway.

Peters, when on the City Council, represented the northwestern part of the city of San Diego.

"The American people, especially San Diegans, don't care as much about party politics as they care about their jobs, quality of life and their children's futures," Peters said. "They are embarrassed and worried that our national representatives can't put personal politics aside and put the people they represent first."

He said his priorities, if elected, would be job creation, development of an energy policy that reduces dependence on foreign oil, keeping commitments to veterans and their families, and ending irresponsible spending patterns.

Peters joins the race against fellow Democrat and former State Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña.

-City News Service