Former AG Violet mulls run for R.I. governor
5:10 PM Wed, May 27, 2009 | Permalink
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Violet said she had told all of her political suitors: "I will think about it.'' A lawyer and former Catholic nun, the 65-year-old Violet still runs a low-key law practice while writing a local newspaper column, a musical about the mob ("with the names changed to protect the guilty'') and her latest book. Soon to be published, she said, the book - titled Me and the Mob - is about the life of former Providence Public Safety Commissioner John Partington and his role in the creation of the witness protection program. Asked what might draw her back into election politics, she said, "the very same issues'' that first sparked her run for attorney general in 1984 when "I was a dark horse...[with] a $50 a month allowance as a nun.'' Among her issues then: "prosecuting organized crime ...trying to clean up public corruption and getting the darn Columbia drug cartel out of Central Falls, R.I. because they were a blemish on the state. I did that because I said, well, I might not win but we've got to keep pounding on these issues so people will pay attention.'' As a candidate for governor, she said, she would once again have a forum to "make people pay attention to why we are in the kind of state we are in right now, economically and otherwise...what I think Is wrong and how we can get it right...because I think we are on our last gasp around here.'' "We keep making the same mistakes,'' she said Moderate party chairman Ken Block said he thought Violet would be "a great choice,'' but their conversations to date have focused on "if it was necessary, would she run?'' For now, Violet said: "I am in the going-to-think-about-it phase.'' A one-term attorney general (1985-86), Violet was bested in her bid for reelection by Democrat James O'Neil. Violet is the scheduled guest speaker at a June 10 reception hosted by the "Portuguese Republican Caucus'' that the state GOP has been promoting.
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Arlene is the ideal candidate for Governor. I watch her every week on Newsmakers and she is relentless on the politicians and public officials who does not have RI in their best interest and are self serving. I would totally support an Arlene for Governor ticket.
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Cleaning up corruption and getting rid of the
" Good Ole Boy " network in Rhode Island is priority number one. Arlene Violet is the right person at the right time to lead Rhode Island into the future.
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Arlene dont waste your time or the publics time running for governor were just getting rid of so called repub gov now he has destroyed RI last thing we need is you you have no chance please go back to being a nun your a complete waste or time
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You gotta laugh at the nasty people who not only can't spell but also blame a Republican Gov when the state has been run by a corrupt GA for years. I agree this Gov wasn't strong enough to overcome the incestuous politics in RI but Arlene Violet? She will be great because she is relentless!!!!!
This lady will have my vote!!!
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I would most definitly support Ms. Violet for Governor. I agree with Shadylady above. This state needs to rid itself of the current Democratic leadership in the General Assembly along with their self-serving gluttony. Until we rid ourselves of Fox, Paiva-Weed, Murphy and Constantino and the rest of them, the State of RI will continue to spiral downward. We must rid ourselves of politicians who build a powerbase by catering to State & Municipal unions and handing out entitlements like they were Halloween candy.
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Arlene is one of few people (in government) with true integrity in this state. I've been hoping for a decision like this for years. I would vote for her today and have often thought about adding her as my write-in vote! If Arlene runs - I'd concider actally staying in Rhode Island
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Arlene is one of few people (in government) with true integrity in this state. I've been hoping for a decision like this for years. I would vote for her today and have often thought about adding her as my write-in vote! If Arlene runs - I'd consider actually staying in Rhode Island
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Now this is a blast from the past and it just might be what works.
Will she get backing from the special interests? Doubtful.......she didn't play ball with them when she was AG.
This state is in a death spiral and the people have no one to blame but themselves to keep the Democratic tax and spend machine in business at the state house. Tax bills getting harder to pay? You have no one to blame but yourselves!
It's time to get the brooms out and start sweeping the party boys out. The Democratic machine has killed this state and let's put the blame where it rightfully belongs; the Democrats put us here!
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I don't see why any non-Democrat would run for the Gov's seat in 2010. Even if you win, you can't win. Look at Carcieri. He's blamed for everything, yet he has zero power. What power does he have to fix anything? The media will call it *his* budget. He has no say over the budget. He's constitutionally required to submit one, but then the Assembly does whatever they want with it anyway. He can veto it, but they have more than enough votes to override. They can do that to any veto he offers.
A Republican governor is powerless in RI. We might as well just hand over all the reigns to the Democrats, let them run it completely down the toilet, then the voters will finally see it had nothing to do with the Republicans all along and maybe then, in 2014, start cleaning this place up.
I really wonder if Obi-Wan Kenobi was talking about our General Assembly when he described Mos Eisley in Star Wars: "You'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy."
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I would support Ms. Violet in a run for Governor... we need a conservative voice with great integrity. She also has the energy and spirit to move this state in a better direction... I believe in Gov. Carcieri, I believe he has been working for our benefit... but it must be tough to work toward a goal when you are in a VERY small minority. I have all the faith in Ms. Violet that she will be the ideal person to bring this state to its rightful place of greatness!
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