Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ed Fitzgerald held a May 14, 2014, press conference outside the Westerville City School District’s Early Learning Center (ELC) to address the importance of investing in Early Childhood Education, thereby adding his name to the growing list of local, state and national political candidates visiting the district while on the campaign trail.
District officials granted conditional access to the facility to avoid any possible interference with preschool classes at the ELC. Access was restricted to a time of day that would not disrupt student pick up or drop off, and only the exterior of the ELC was used as a backdrop for the press conference. Nothing associated with the candidate’s visit was permitted to occur inside the preschool facility so student learning could continue uninterrupted.
Westerville City Schools has a long history of political campaigns requesting the use of facilities for community meetings, rallies and press conferences. Barack Obama campaigned for the presidency in 2008 at Westerville Central High School, as did Hillary Clinton at Westerville North. First Lady Michelle Obama spoke to campaign volunteers, supporters, and interested community members at Westerville Central High School in July of 2012. Mitt Romney also campaigned for the presidency at Westerville South High School during September of 2012, and George W. Bush made a campaign stop at Westerville North in 2000 before being elected President.