VI Politics

You have to look at the history of the islands and understand that most of the "locals" are from families that are inter-related to varying degrees. Nepotism is pretty much impossible to avoid. Name recognition and family backing are large players at election time. Even politicians who have been convicted for corruption in the past and were removed from office can and do sometimes get re-elected in future years. No matter how altruistic many people are when they run for office, the reality is that once they are elected they don't automatically have the power to undo the complex and overly large government where there are many more bodies on the payroll than have any reason for being there. Once someone is hired, they often have a job for life, whether they are needed and useful or not. That eats up a LOT of $$ that could be put to better use. Making something better requires a super-majority of those in power and in a position to change it being willing to put forth effort to make that change. It doesn't take many people working to obstruct change to be successful in doing just that. If the government were streamlined, that would mean many people would lose their jobs. All the people at risk, along with their family and friends, are likely to avoid the changes that could lead to their unemployment.

In the long run it would benefit everyone, even the people who lost jobs, for the government to improve and for services to provide what they are supposed to not just to a few in power but to the average citizen. It's the painful process required to get to that end result that makes it difficult to get the ball rolling. Who would want to be the sacrificial lambs to lose their jobs as a department was reorganized? There aren't going to be a lot of people volunteering for that opportunity. Heroes sacrifice themselves for the common good. Everyone wants to be a hero, but not everyone has it in him/her to actually take that kind of step.

The kids attending the public schools DO count. They just don't vote yet. But the reality is that when they are old enough to vote, they, as their parents and grandparents before them, may well not vote to change things from how they are. People don't always like how things are, but change is scary and they may choose to live with what they know rather than to risk winding up with something worse.

I'm optimistic enough to think there just might come a change in government practices after this next election. If the same old same old are re-elected then I may have to eat my hat but there seems to be more awareness evidenced in the last couple of years and more people interested in registering to vote and logically examining the platforms and past performances of the candidates.

If you're eligible to vote here, have an opinion about the underlying problems of government, then please register to vote NOW and carefully look into not only what the incumbents are saying but what they have done. Likewise look into the history of the gubernatorial candidates.

The LEAST politically-motivated media source of information is, in my opinion, the online STT Source with The Avis in second place and The Daily News trying to be upfront but always suffering in the background from "Prosser Empiritis."

The Source has recently been regularly running a paid advertisement both on its local news page and in the forum and editorial sections which explains in detail who is eligible to vote and how to do so. Cheers.

Hi STTResident.

This weekend a friend asked me if there is any publication or consolidated online information about the candidates and their positions on issues, similar to what League of Women Voters groups publish in their local areas stateside, and I couldn't think of anything comprehensive. Do you know of any such paper or electronic publication?

Do check the Source as I think they do indeed post a review. The Daily News also puts out a comprehensive supplement as election day draws closer. I'll post more info later, But I believe the deadline to register to vote is coming up soon which is why I suggested the Source ad as a quick info fix for those who may want to register but don't know what to do. Cheers.

Leila: IMHO a large part of the problem is that our elected legistature (who are called Senators) are elected at-large. That means they know they have to get a certain number of votes (like 4000? as I recall.) So they go to housing or the union membership, or taxi association and get them to bullet vote. Voters are allowed 7 votes, but if I only use one of my votes it has more power than if I use all of them. Until we have direct representation through numbered seats or districting, we are going to continue to have problems. Interestingly, at-large voting was deemed illegal in the states because it was a method used in the old south to dilute the minority vote.

BTW, the 15 legislators aka Senators- 7 from St Thomas, 7 from St Croix and one elected by all who must live on St John- make , what is it now $60,000 a year? And they have a budget of around a million each. This for a population of 120,000+. Several years ago the people voted to reduce the number of legislators and the legislators ignored the mandate.

I went to my first political campaign "fish fry" this weekend.
I was disappointed to find that my request for campaign platform materials was met with some flyers telling me primarily of the marital/employment status of the candidate.

I am looking forward to the supplement that details the candidate's positions on actual matters of consequence.

Re. registration deadline. We have until Aug. 7 to register and be eligible for your party's prmiaries.

I've also seen those fliers note familial relations, which seems to be a critical "quality" in a candidate here because voters like to have relatives in high places. 😉

This will be the first election cycle that I am voting. I am a Republican...I know there are only about 200 of us on the entire Island. Does it make more sense to register Democrat so I can vote in the primaries sense there is not exactly a bustling Republican Party here on the Island?? I grew up in the American South and everyone registered Democrat because they controlled everything and if you wanted to vote for Sheriffs,Judges etc.. you needed to be registered Democrat because no Republicans ran.
My other question is, are the Senators who file to run for Governor or Lt. Gov in the primaries also on the ballot for Senate?? I am assuming they don't want to risk losing that job.
Is there a good website listing the candidates and their platforms?? Or is that too delusional to ask.

I think that the political reality here is that the vast majority of elected officials will be Democrats. By registering as a Democrat you will have a better opportunity to help determine who will actually govern our territory, since you will be able to vote in the primary for the candidates who will eventually win the election. Registering as an Independent (which I like to think that I am) or a Republican may be the idealistically correct thing to do but it will ultimately minimize your ability to influence the outcome of the election. .

In any state (or territory) where one party is dominate and the elections are decided in the primary, your best bet is to register as a member of the dominate party. We lived in Michigan years ago and were registered Republican, moved to Kentucky and registered Democrat. In my opinion.

Herewith a copy of my email today to John Dejongh which is self-explanatory.

Dear John,

I'm glad to hear from your update that your food sale was so successful.

However, and just playing Devil's advocate here, I've received feedback from several who were there and were very disappointed that the flyers being distributed about your campaign were the same old same old and told them not too much about what exactly your platform is all about and what you plan to do which is in any way different from what has gone before.

The food sales and the fish fries have been an integral part of campaigning over the years but the world is rapidly changing. Newcomers to the islands who have setlled in and are raising families here have been prompted to register to vote but they're well aware of the dichotomy between promises and action. Although the local population in general has over the years been swayed by the biggest fish fry accompanied by the inevitable empty but self-serving campaign promises, this newer population is looking for more before they put in their vote.

Getting recognition and votes from that segment of the population which has always voted via fish fries and food sales is all well and good but you also need to reach out to that segment of the new population which genuinely wants to participate in voting and has registered to do so. They don't care to whom a candidate is related (which perforce reeks of nepotism in any case!) They don't care about who puts on the best fish fry or food sale. They want to get to know both you and other candidates, pick your brains and get valid responses to valid questions.

I'm willing to help promote your campaign in whatever way I'm able. If you would be interested in using my place one evening when I'm closed to the public (MTW) to host a small event just to seriously talk to the people that I know who would come and listen to you, with it being of course open to my Smith Bay neighbours and anyone else, I'm more than happy to work with you on it.

This offer has nothing to do with making money on my part. I'm poor as a churchmouse but more altruistic than not. However, I do think this would be an opportunity for you to answer questions and get one-on-one with a segment of the population which is very tired of this whole political nonsense and seriously wants to see change.

Look forward to your reply!
Sincerely yours,

In today's Daily News there is a brief question and answer with deJongh and Ross.

To those who have not been through an election before, especially a triple- Senate, Governor and Delegate- if you notice some visual pollution on the roads now, remember, it is only July! The primary isn't until September, then two more months until the election. Then usually there is a run-off...

Avis published your letter in the LtoEd section today. At about the same time that you were writing the letter, John mentioned in a note to me that he was completing revisions on a written "plan" which will be available in print and on his website. A bit late, IMO, but I believe he realizes that many folks want something concrete to vote "for".

STT Res-you could have written that for me!

Beaches--glad to hear the candidate acknowledges the need to inform voters of his positions.

EE-I read the platform points in the Daily News. While I know there is probably a context that would accompany their conclusions, it was nice to see some actual positions espoused.

BTW, Am I the only one who thinks a civilian review board is a good idea? Am I missing something...

Thanks for the info, beaches!

EE: I read the piece in the Daily News and confess to being a little disappointed in a couple of the yes/no responses but clarification of those responses wasn't allowed and it will be interesting to see/hear an in-depth rationalization for them.

To the poster who asked whether a guberantorial candidate could maintain his or her senate seat, the answer is no. Once a senator throws his or her hat into the gubernatorial race, that's it as far as their senate position is concerned.

Mr. Kenneth Mapp apparently thought he could get away with heading up the PFA while at the same time campaigning for Governor but that was quickly squashed and the PFA demanded his resignation from that post. And of course it was only a few years back that he ran for the Senate again until it was discovered that while on the mainland for continuing education he had registered to vote in the state in which he was residing and thus wasn't eligible to vote in the VI. One can't have it both ways!

What's gratifying is that at least some of these double-dipping attempts are coming to light and may it all continue.

Lorraine Berry's gubernatorial quest may be withdrawn. I understand that her husband recently suffered a heart attack and she has had to cancel several campaign appearances. All depends on his recovery. I've a lot of respect for Senator Berry and apart from one big vote snafu prior to the last election which cost her a lot of votes, she's always been a stalwart representative of the people and doesn't mess around. She reminds me of the late Ruby Rouss who was such an outstanding character and afforded me many a laugh as she took on some of her fellow Senators in a most blunt fashion.

I'm sorry I segued off into politics on this thread but it was the education post which got me going since I believe that the education issue is of major importance and, unless the education system undergoes massive reform, the next generation(s) of locals will be ill-equipped to make intelligent decisions.

Probably a whole new thread should be devoted to the subject of politics in this election year. Islander, would it be possible to sift out everything from this post and do that?

Cheers to all.

Onika: No you're not the only one who thinks that a Civilian Review Board is a must. Right now, those who are targeted by rogue police officers have nowhere to go. I stuck my neck out recently on behalf of several people I know who have been targeted by an officer involved with a towing company in a total scam but who are scared to make a report for fear of retribution.

During one week I left two messages for Director of Internal Affairs Ray Martinez to get in touch with me and remain most disappointed not to get a return call from him. I had faith in him because he promptly dealt with something that happened to me a couple of years ago involving a police officer. I think Ray Martinez has way too much on his plate and my gut feeling is that he might well welcome a review board to take the heat off him,

And in the DeJongh/Ross yes/no responses. both said no to a reduction in the number of senators. A vote from the people a few years ago was overwhelmingly in favour of reducing the number of senators but that went through the Senate (surprise, surprise) like a zinc cupcake.

Cheers!

Onik'a: Did you forget where you live?? 😉

Is there a reasonable person against:
~ a Land and Water Use plan?
~ a civilian review board?
~ districting, or at a minimum, numbered seats?
~ better education with less bureaucracy?
~ enforcement of the current laws?
~ water taxis?

However, I don't think I have seen any candidates in favor of any of these.