Local Politics

Members of the Virgin Islands Board of Elections in the St. Croix District complete an audit of the August 3 primary election today at the Elections System of the Virgin Islands by physically counting the number of ballots cast at one of the voting centers on St. Croix to ensure they matched the tallies printed out from the voting machines. (Clockwise from left) Florine Audain-Hassell, Lisa Harris-Moorhead, Lilliana Belardo de O’Neal, and Virgin Islands Lottery Director Raymond Williams.

ESVI certifies primary election, new Board of Elections candidate advances to general election

Tom Eader

New Board of Elections candidate for STT/STJ District heads to general election after Elections System certifies primary election following counting of absentee ballots.

ESVI certifies primary election, new Board of Elections candidate advances to general election

Tom Eader

New Board of Elections candidate for STT/STJ District heads to general election after Elections System certifies primary election following counting of absentee ballots.

Senator Marise James speaks during a Williams Delight Residents Council meeting Thursday evening in the neighborhood’s community center.

Williams Delight residents hear of $15K grants toward home purchases; VIHA to fund $15K of repairs

Tom Eader

Senator Marise James announces opportunity for Williams Delight residents to receive $15,000 grants toward purchase of homes; VIHA obligates at least $15K in repairs.

Michael Joseph, Board of Elections member, left; Deputy St. Croix Supervisor of Elections Terrell Alexandre, middle; and Richard Muhammad, BOE executive assistant, participate in a BOE emergency meeting Thursday in the conference room at the Elections System of the Virgin Islands on St. Croix. Some board members participated from the ESVI conference room on St. Thomas, while others participated virtually.

BOE votes to hold Democratic Party primary, Capehart circulates petition for special Senate session

Tom Eader

Board of Elections votes during emergency meeting for supervisor of elections to hold Democratic Party primary for public offices; Casting of lots set for Tuesday.

Supervisor of Elections Caroline Fawkes testifies before the Senate Committee on Rules and Judiciary on September 8, 2022.

Fawkes responds to Democratic Party that ESVI cannot hold primary election without Senate action

Tom Eader

Supervisor of Elections Caroline Fawkes responds to Democratic Party that her office cannot conduct primary election without amendments to unconstitutional laws.

John McCoy, an employee at the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency who filed a nomination petition to run for a seat in the Senate, has requested for the Elections System of the Virgin Islands to withdraw his name as a nominated candidate due to required leave of absence.

Gov’t employees running for public office, including 6th Constitutional Convention, must take leave

Tom Eader

Leave of absence requirement for government employees seeking public office creates financial burden; Senator Marise James seeks to adjust held bill to amend law.

Barbara Jackson-McIntosh gets pinned during her swearing-in ceremony as director of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Motor Vehicles at Government House on St. Croix in June 2019.

BMV Director Jackson-McIntosh prevented from running for Board of Elections according to new law

Tom Eader

Amendment to elections statute signed into law in 2023 prevents BMV director from running for Board of Elections; Jackson-McIntosh to review law and make decision.

Senator Donna Frett-Gregory chairs the Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance today at the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on St. Thomas.

Senator Donna Frett-Gregory will not run for re-election, vows to continue to be of service

Adian Brewer

During today’s Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance meeting, Chairperson Donna Frett-Gregory announced she will not be entering the Senate race in November.

Democratic State Chair Stedmann Hodge Jr.

VI Democratic Party votes that government must still conduct primary election despite ESVI position

Tom Eader

Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands votes that Board of Elections must still conduct a primary election despite Fawkes’ testimony, but party must certify candidates.

John Yob, state chair of the Republican Party in the Virgin Islands, sent a letter dated May 14 to Supervisor of Elections Caroline Fawkes seeking confirmation that candidates nominated by the VIGOP through its own party-run process will appear on the general election ballot as if they had been nominated through the customary primary election.

VIGOP State Chair John Yob seeks confirmation from supervisor of elections on party-run primaries

Tom Eader

Elections System awaiting filing deadline on Tuesday to determine whether political parties will need to conduct primaries ahead of general election.