Local leaders endorse Buttigieg for president

As presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg came to Utah for a town hall with thousands of supporters, several local leaders publicly endorsed his candidacy.

SALT LAKE COUNTY MAYOR JENNY WILSON

“I believe in Pete’s vision for our country and trust him to represent all Americans. This country needs a unifying leader capable of undoing the damage done over the last few years and returning us to a domestic agenda focused on the needs of our citizens. Additionally, Pete’s service as a Navy Officer gives him a unique advantage over others at a time when restoring America’s place as a leader in the world is so critical,” Jenny Wilson said in a statement. “Mayors approach challenges differently than senators do because we are forced to be more practical than ideological. We have to work quickly, responsively, and across party lines to deliver results for our constituents, and can’t afford to get bogged down in philosophical squabbles. Perhaps most importantly, Pete can defeat President Trump in November.

Not only will he energize the base of the Democratic Party, but we believe he will be able to attract a larger share of moderates, independents, and liberal Republican voters than any other candidate in the field. Pete Buttigieg has my vote and my enthusiastic endorsement.”

FORMER SALT LAKE CITY MAYOR TED WILSON

“The Democratic Party is fortunate to have a number of very capable, qualified leaders running for president this year. I believe Mayor Pete Buttigieg is the right candidate for the moment and the candidate best qualified to be our next commander in chief,” Ted Wilson wrote.

SALT LAKE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY SIM GILL

“We’ve made progress towards criminal justice reform in Salt Lake County, but it’s going to take bold action at the federal level to drive change across Utah and the United States. That’s why I’m proud to endorse Pete Buttigieg for President of the United States,” Gill said in a statement. “As mayor of South Bend, he never shied away from tough conversations, and as president, he’ll prioritize restorative justice to work to reduce incarceration across the United States. Pete understands the importance of belonging — he will be a president for all of us, not only those that support him. I enthusiastically endorse Pete Buttigieg for president of the United States.”

SALT LAKE CITY MAYOR ERIN MENDENHALL

“[Buttigieg] is the kind of person who knows Salt Lake City, who knows South Bend, Ind., who knows the United States of America, because he cares about people,” Mendenhall said on the stage introducing Buttigieg at the Town Hall. “He also has something that the current president doesn’t have, and that is respect for the people and all their differences. The more diverse this country becomes, the more we need a president who can speak with tact, who can be eloquent, who can respect the people and celebrate this nation of diversity. Pete can lead not only because he has a plan, but he has a genuine understanding of people because he’s done the work at the grassroots level.