|
Elton John to play Broward for Reno donors
By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 2, 2002
This time, Elton John's yellow brick road leads to South Florida, and Janet Reno hopes the bricks are gold.
Reno's campaign said Thursday that John, a British-born pianist and singer, will hold a private, $500-a-ticket fundraiser for her in September in Broward County.
The concert is scheduled for Sept. 18 -- eight days after Reno meets Tampa lawyer Bill McBride and state Sen. Daryl Jones in the Democratic primary. Reno was leading handily in recent polls.
McBride spokesman Alan Stonecipher claimed he was baffled: "She already had her birthday, so he can't be coming for that. I'm trying to think, what's the occasion?"
The concert is scheduled for the Signature Grand Hotel in Davie, where Republican Gov. Jeb Bush held a fundraiser last month. The banquet hall holds up to 1,000.
Reno spokeswoman Nicole Harburger said Reno and John met at the White House while Reno was U.S. attorney general, and Reno attended a party John threw after the Academy Awards in Hollywood this year. "He said to her at that point that he would love to do anything he could for the campaign," Harburger said.
Reno's other celeb supporters have included musician Bo Diddly and actor Martin Sheen. But her Hollywood connections haven't done much for her bank account: Fundraising reports released last month show McBride has about $1.2-million on hand, compared with roughly $220,000 for Reno and $4.97-million for Bush.
Back to State news
© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111
 |
