GRAND TERRACE - Hot dogs - without sauerkraut - were the main course at an event prompted by fliers that the hosts said were racist for pointing out mayoral candidate Walt Stanckiewitz was born in Germany. The event, held Friday at Stanckiewitz's La Pasta Italia restaurant, was billed as a way to denounce "racial divisiveness."

It became a show of support for the three candidates targeted by the anonymous fliers - Stanckiewitz and City Council candidates Bernardo Sandoval and Sylvia Robles - as well as Colton Joint Unified school board candidate Pilar Tabera. Another candidate for mayor, Doug Wilson, attended the event for about 15 minutes to show his opposition to the attack fliers, which were spread before dawn on Oct. 17.

"My intention was not to draw attention to myself and away from the barbecue," he said. "It was a political event that appeared to be solely attended by Stanckiewitz supporters."

Stanckiewitz said the attendance disproved claims that he was alienating the community by bringing attention to unpleasant issues.

"It shows the community that we're not alone, that the message we've been sending, people have heard," he said.

Sandoval and Robles also thanked the group for its support and said they were focusing on important questions.

"We're not doing negative campaigning," Sandoval said. "We're focusing on the issues."

Many people at the event said they supported exposure of what they said were hidden problems in Grand Terrace and thought the candidates who attended would help achieve that goal.

"I'm here because I'm pro-Grand Terrace, which is what Walt and Bernardo are," Tom Roberts said.

- ryan.hagen@inlandnewspapers.com, 909-386-3916

Gramps Adds:

It was interesting Mr. Wilson made a quick appearance. His denial of being behind the flier has been received. However, he can not dispute that some of his own words, and the words of Herman Hilkey, and Tom Schwab, and others on and running for the City Council, were used to help fabricate the flier.

His impression of who attended the rally is interesting. Of course people were there to support the candidates against the intended tactics of the flier. Many like himself did not come there starting off to be a supporter of the 3 local GT Candidates. Perhaps his polling question was misguided. Perhaps after meeting him they drew the conclusion who they would vote for.

Many people left the event better informed and reassured that there is a base of citizens who are not only not interested in fliers that twist the truth and are filled with racial undertones, but who will stand together and show a rebuke of such conduct. Some just came for the free food, and to join the event to see who showed up. The reporter's side remark of "with no sauerkraut" shows little regard for the genesis of the rally. It also shows a lack of class. If he said "With no Fried Chicken and Watermelon" at a Jessie Jackson Rally, he would be advised regarding his use of stereotypes that can connote negative messages unintended or intentional. That is the very type of polite racism that is all to often allowed to be spoken and not addressed for what it is. That is why the Rally was held.

Grand Terrace Citizens are tired of such poor press coverage, we are tired of hush lets just ignore the problems, hush protect the City Council Members and the Old City Staff from being embarrassed by the truth. Grand Terrace may be going through the most significant growth in maturity it has in 30 plus years, it is about time. Citizens need to be involved, and keep that interest level high after the campaign and election in order to make the Government work for us, rather than us working a taxpaying slaves for the government.