Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske issued the following statement after being sent an email being circulated by City Prosecutor Tom Reeves who is calling for a rally of GOP candidates in front of her neighborhood office at the very same time she expects more than 300 students and their parents to be participating in the 2010 Solar Grand Prix scheduled for over a year at the very same location. Mayor Bob Foster is expected to make remarks at the Opening Ceremonies of the Solar Grand Prix which she and her 5th District Solar and Sustainability Taskforce organized.
The email Schipske received states:
From: Tom Reeves [mailto:tomreeveslbc@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2010 9:37 PM
To: TomReevesLBC@gmail.com
Subject: Exercise Program
Calling all Hands
The Los Angeles County Young Republicans, the Long Beach Young Republicans, the Long Beach Area Republican Party and our Republican candidates are organizing a walk this Saturday. If you are interested in helping elect Republicans and you are willing to walk a precinct to drop literature on doorsteps – then reply to this email and let us know. You can also call 562.443.8633 and leave a message.
We will be meeting at El Dorado Park on Saturday at 10:00 am. We will be in front of the Community Center at El Dorado Park which is located a half a block South of the intersection of Studebaker and Spring on the East side of Studebaker. That’s 2800 Studebaker Road. This best part of this location is it is right in front of Gerrie Schipke’s District Office!! You don't have to bring anything except a willingness to spend a couple of hours walking in Long Beach.
Please join us elect Republicans === it promises to be a beautiful day for a walk!
Thank you
Tom Reeves, Tim O’Reilly, Mike Hedges, Jana Shields
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------In response, Schipske stated: "I am disheartened that our City Prosecutor Tom Reeves would stoop so low in his attempt to campaign by scheduling a rally of his fellow Republican candidates in front of the very location where an educational and environmental event has been scheduled for over a year. The Solar Grand Prix is involving over 300 area students, their teachers and parents. These students have worked for over 3 months in designing and building the solar cars they will race. They do not deserve this petty, partisan disruption. I call upon Mr. Reeves and my opponent Mike Hedges, who claims he detests partisan politics, to find another venue and leave these kids out of their silly campaign games."
