Arlene Violet's Birthday Party (posted July 6, 1999)

Arlene Violet is edging closer to a U.S. Senate run in 2000 as an independent candidate. Plans call for her to have a fundraiser birthday party at 6 p.m. August 17 at the 1025 Club, where she will announce the formation of a Senate exploratory committee, a la Hillary Clinton. This party will allow her to assess how much interest there is in a possible candidacy and raise some early cash. An exploratory committee has the advantage of letting her undertake activities such as fundraising and organization development without a formal declaration of candidacy. Such a committee would keep her on the air at WHJJ as a radio talk show host for 6 to 9 months, until she officially declares in Spring of 2000. At that point, she would have to go off the air and be a regular candidate. If it materializes, her entry into the Senate campaign will make this a wild race to the finish. Tickets to the party are $35 a person.