ST. CROIX — Former Senator James Weber III is challenging his disqualification from the race for delegate to Congress, arguing that filing his nomination petition in the wrong district should not bar him from seeking public office and requesting a hearing before the Board of Elections.
Weber, a former one-term senator who served in the 27th Legislature, hand delivered a letter Friday to St. Croix Deputy Supervisor of Elections Terrell Alexandre seeking an in-person hearing before the board to appeal the decision. The letter was addressed to Board of Elections Chair Raymond Williams, board members, and Supervisor of Elections Caroline Fawkes.
Weber provided a copy of his letter to WTJX, however, it was scant on details as to the merits of his challenge. The letter reads as follows, “The sole intent of my correspondence is to request a hearing in person of quorum of the members of the Board of Elections; to appeal my disqualification as an aspirant to the United States House of Representatives. The Virgin Islands have afforded me, to live a life that makes me a believer! “Heaven is right here on earth.” An uncomparable existence; with few steps left, I turned my talent to representing all of us with the singular goal of creating an easier existence, particularly for those less fortunate than most. I heard of my disqualification by phone. Tom Eader of WTJX called for a comment. It is yesterday, May 29, 2026 at 2:37 PM that I received notice of my disqualification by letter at my rural mailbox in MonBijou. Please allow me a hearing to state my case to appear on the federal election ballot on November 3, 2026.”
Weber’s implication that he learned of his disqualification by a WTJX journalist by phone is incorrect. Weber called Eader from a friend’s phone after a May 21 report of his disqualification. Alexandre said prior to that published story, Fawkes stated that she attempted to reach Weber by phone but he was unreachable.
In speaking with Eader on Friday while at the casting of lots event at the Elections System’s office on St. Croix, Weber was more expressive about the reason he wants a meeting with the board.
“I think I filed correctly,” he said, adding that he plans to argue both local and federal election law in his appeal.
Weber also questioned why other petition issues can be corrected while district filing errors cannot.
“If you can cure a petition because the people who have signed it may not be valid or the wrong party, really and truly, what does it matter where I deliver it?” he questioned. “It’s delivered in the Virgin Islands. I am who I am.”
“I am asking for non-disqualification,” Weber said.
Fawkes disqualified Weber last week after determining he filed his nomination petition in the St. Thomas/St. John District, despite residing and being registered to vote on St. Croix, in violation of Title 18, Section 410(a)(1) of the Virgin Islands Code.
In an email to media, Fawkes said the requirement is clear and mandatory.
“Aspirant Jimmy [James’s nickname] Weber filed in the wrong district, as per VIC 18, 410 a(1), this can’t be done and he’s fully aware,” she wrote, in what appeared to be a reference to Weber’s previous stint as deputy supervisor of elections.
The statute requires candidates to file nomination petitions in the district where they reside. Fawkes said the rule cannot be corrected after the filing deadline.
Alexandre said it is up to the Board of Elections to decide whether Weber’s appeal will be heard.
“That would be up to the Board of Elections to decide what’s the next step,” he said.
Williams said he could not comment in detail and would need to review the law before determining how the board will proceed.
