Save Our Sonics Leader Endorses Drago

• FOR IMEDIATE RELEASE With the loss of our basketball team, the efforts of Save Our Sonics have been directed toward the future return of the NBA to Seattle and having our Sonics back on the court. We need elected officials with the leadership and vision to be proactive in efforts to solve our arena problem and work with the NBA and local ownership interests to bring a team back to our city. Using the type of private investment outlined in the Ballmer group's proposal, we can boost our local economy, create jobs and bring the Sonics back to a revitalized Seattle Center. Save Our Sonics leadership has actively reached out to candidates for these offices to determine who would best serve the region's interest on this issue. We have invited all candidates for Seattle Mayor, City Council and King County Executive to submit statements to our membership. These statements appear on our website, unedited, for all candidates who responded to our request. While SOS is not a Political Action Committee and does not endorse nor financially support any candidate, we do feel it is appropriate that we provide a list of "recommended candidates" in the various races. These recommendations are designed to be a guide for city and county voters who include the return of the Sonics in their decision making process. Of course, individual members of SOS may publicly endorse individual candidates based on personal connections, business interests, or other policy reasons -- these should not be confused as the position of, or endorsement by, Save Our Sonics. Seattle Mayor - James Donaldson Save Our Sonics recommends James Donaldson in the Primary Election. As a former Sonics player, James understands the NBA well and has connections in the community, as well as the league, that will be essential in our efforts to restore Sonics Basketball in the region. Of all the candidates for Mayor, he has the best chance of unseating Mayor Nickels. SOS Co-Founder Steven Pyeatt made the following comment regarding the Mayors race: "Mayor Nickels has failed time and again to show the leadership required to keep our team here. There is a lot of blame to go around, but in the end the Mayor was the one that sold out Sonics fans and allowed our team to leave. If we are to see the return of the NBA to this region we must have new leadership, and voting for James in the primary gives us the best chance of getting the job done sooner rather than later." King County Executive - Fred Jarrett Of all the candidates for King County Executive, Fred Jarrett was the most proactive and visible in our attempts to keep the Sonics in the region. With the failure of the Seattle Mayor to keep our team or secure Key Arena funding, if Mayor Nickels is re-elected we may find our only hope to secure a team with King County. Fred has committed himself to working with our group to accomplish that goal. Seattle City Council Position 6 - Marty Kaplan and Jessie Israel Both candidates have been passionate about the possibility of returning the NBA to the region and understand the cultural value of the NBA and the financial benefits of having the Sonics in the region. We feel very strongly that either candidate would be a great asset to the council.

• Thnx, j. let me know what y'all decide as a group and I'll post a follow-up.

• Mike, SOS has not decided on any endorsements as of this minute, however active discussion is underway. I believe Brian or someone will be wanting to discuss our approach to the Mayor's race shortly. Thanks, Jeremy Ward Save Our Sonics

• I think that's pretty clear, but thanks for double-clarifying. Has SOS as a whole offered an endorsement?

• For the record it needs to be noted that this is Brian's personal preference in this race and in no way should be seen as an endorsement of Save Our Sonics or any of the other members of the leadership of the group.

TotalComments: 5