Obama's stop at Scott is highly anticipated

Line for tickets long at UAW Local 12

A steady stream of people poured through the doors of the UAW Local 12 hall on Ashland Avenue Friday for tickets to hear President Obama speak at Scott High School on Monday at 12:30 p.m. Nearly 3,000 tickets were distributed.

The Blade/Jeremy Wadsworth
Buy This Image

Scott High School students, from left, Samantha Conner, 18, Laresha Smith, 15, Jaquajia Adams, 15, Saterra Kinnebrew, 17, and Jamie Warren, 14, celebrate Friday after getting their tickets to see the President.

Laresha Smith is just 15 and she's going to see the President.

The Scott High School student was lined up Friday to get tickets to an appearance by President Obama planned Monday at her school in the Old West End.

"I hope it will be a nice experience for him, visiting Scott," Laresha said.

The Obama campaign confirmed Friday that he will speak at 12:30 p.m. at Scott, 2400 Collingwood Blvd. The school was built in 1913 and reopened earlier this year after $42 million in renovations.

Tickets distributed to United Auto Workers union members at the Local 12 Hall on Ashland Avenue on Friday were printed with an incorrect address. (READ STORY)

The union hall was bustling Friday afternoon -- filled with a steady stream of people hoping to see the President during his only pre-scheduled, public Toledo appearance on Labor Day.

"He's coming to our school. That's important to us," said Samantha Conner, 18, another Scott student. Her classmate Saterra Kinnebrew, 17, said she hopes to hear the President speak about education, as well as gang violence.

Scott teacher Frederick Borden, who was also there, was careful to note all the girls had permission to leave school to pick up the tickets.

"It's a great idea that he's coming to Scott," said Mr. Borden. "It means a lot to our community."

A steady stream of people poured through the doors of the UAW Local 12 hall on Ashland Avenue Friday for tickets to hear President Obama speak at Scott High School on Monday at 12:30 p.m. Nearly 3,000 tickets were distributed.

Local 12 president Bruce Baumhower said his local, which represents workers at the Chrysler Group LLC Toledo Assembly complex, was asked to host Mr. Obama's visit and distributed nearly 3,000 tickets in three hours Friday to UAW members at Locals 12, 14, and 1435 at the three Toledo-area automotive plants.

"It was really exciting to see, at the end of the Republican National Convention, to see that much passion for our guy," Mr. Baumhower said.

The President's visit is part of a swing-state tour of Iowa, Colorado, Ohio, and Virginia on his way to accepting the Democratic nomination for a second term in North Carolina on Sept. 6.

Doors for the Scott speech will open at 10:30 a.m. Monday. Those attending must have a ticket. The President will arrive in Toledo on Sunday from Boulder, Colo., and will spend the night here before Monday's event.

On Friday, the President canceled a second planned appearance in Cleveland on Labor Day, and instead will head to Louisiana to observe hurricane damage.

Marva Lewis, 73, was also at the UAW Hall on Friday afternoon, looking for tickets.

"I love Obama," she said. "I love his demeanor. Everything he's saying is true and factual. He really is trying to better the economy."

Ms. Lewis added, "And he really must care about us, because he keeps coming back to Toledo."

The President was in the Toledo area most recently on July 5. Stops then included the Wolcott House in Maumee, Sandusky, Oak Harbor, and rural Ottawa County.

Denise Barber-Cook, a UAW member who was helping hand out tickets, said she hopes the President will address labor issues. Many of the people at the hall picking up tickets were UAW members.

Bill Huckaby said he wants to hear about education issues; his wife is a teacher.

Added Emanuel Holcomb, "It's going to be an historic event. It's something I don't want to miss."

Before the President's stop, union members and others are expected to march in the 9 a.m. Labor Day parade in downtown Toledo. National UAW President Bob King will be participating in the parade.

The Obama campaign has not released information on any other stops the President may make while in the Toledo area, including whether he could appear at the parade.

Vice President Joe Biden also will be in the area on Labor Day. The vice president, who was in Detroit last week, will make another campaign stop there Monday during that annual Labor Day parade.

He will be speaking at the corner of West Lafayette Boulevard and Shelby Street.

Those interested in obtaining a ticket can stop by an Obama For America office in the Detroit area starting at 9 a.m. today. Distribution will continue through Sunday if tickets remain. Tickets are required for entry, with one ticket available per person.

The Michigan AFL-CIO has posted a notice on its Facebook page saying the vice president would be taking part in a parade beginning at 9 a.m. and a rally at noon. The parade starts at Michigan Avenue at Trumbull Street.

Last year, President Obama spoke in Detroit on Labor Day.

Staff writer Tanya Irwin contributed to this report.

Contact Kate Giammarise at: kgiammarise@theblade.com or 419-724-6091.