Supporters of school bond rally for support

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT-MESA -- Measure A campaigners hope to whip hundreds of residents

into a frenzy of support for a proposed $110-million school bond tonight

at a kickoff rally in Costa Mesa.

“It will be a fun night where we’ll be able to really address how

[Measure A] is going to help each school -- how it’s going to rebuild and

repair each school,” said Arlene Schafer, one of four campaign

co-chairpersons.

The campaign group, Citizens to Rebuild Our Schools, was active before

the Newport-Mesa Unified School Board even decided to put the

$110-million school bond issue before voters, but it is now looking for

stronger community support. The bond measure will be put to the test on a

special ballot June 6.

The purpose of the rally is to give the already active volunteers a

campaign schedule and to urge more residents to become volunteers, said

co-chair Mark Schultheis.

“We have learned through the communication we have had with people so

far, that for us to be effective we need to have communication with

voters one on one,” he said.

To best reach each individual voter, Schultheis said they will need

hundreds, if not thousands, of volunteers.

“We’ll do the campaign with as many volunteers as we can,” he said. “But

we think we need hundreds of volunteers to share in spreading the

message. From the indication we’ve had, we can get those.”

While delivering encouraging presentations to what they hope will be a

large crowd, the group will distribute information, said Hank Panion,

another co-chair who described his job for tonight’s rally as being

upbeat and encouraging.

“My deal on Thursday is fund-raising, but I feel very confident that

anyone that comes will have a very clear idea of what will happen with

the campaign,” said Jill Money, the fourth co-chair. “There will be a

calendar given out. I think it will become very organized and very clear

once that calendar is given out.”

Money said the calendar will let volunteers know when different campaign

activities are taking place -- when phone banks are operating, when they

will be going door to door and when mailings should be sent out.

The committee developed this calendar with the help of the Tromitola

Company, which was hired with campaign funding to provide advice.

FYI

* WHAT: Measure A campaign kickoff rally. The event is sponsored by

Citizens to Rebuild Our Schools and is open to the community.

* WHEN: 7 to 8 p.m. tonight

* WHERE: Costa Mesa Community Center, 1845 Park Ave.