Reid campaign pens flier accusing Sandoval of seeking to fire teachers

By Anjeanette Damon

Tuesday, July 27, 2010 | 1:32 p.m.

Democrat Rory Reid’s campaign apparently doesn’t think its well-funded television ads attacking his Republican rival Brian Sandoval on education have gained enough traction and are going a less expensive route.

Today, the campaign began papering cars in Reno with black and white fliers announcing the “termination of employment” of 5,080 Nevada teachers. Reid contends Sandoval’s budget plan would force those layoffs.

The flier, a mock memo from Sandoval to the teachers, reads in huge block letters: “You are fired!!!”

Reid bases his accusation on a short-term deficit reduction plan Sandoval released last year when the state was facing a budget shortfall. Sandoval called for cutting state employee salaries and taking state class-size reduction funds away from Clark County. (Under Sandoval’s plan, local officials would be able to replace the class-size reduction money with capital improvement funds.)

Reid has spent weeks trying to provoke his opponent into engaging in the back and forth on education, the issue Reid feels he can best win on. So far, Sandoval isn’t biting.

But if Reid, who has plenty of money in his campaign coffers, can convince enough people that Sandoval is out to fire teachers, the Republican may be forced to finally respond.