Dear Source,
Wednesday, July 10, was the due date for candidates to file their Campaign Disclosure Reports with the Election System.
A comparison of the filings shows a vast difference in the totals reported by the Turnbull campaign and the de Jongh-Arnold 2002 campaign for the period of Jan. 1 through June 30, 2002. The Campaign Disclosure Report submitted by my campaign committee lists revenues of $117,836.50, with expenditures of $100,812.17. On the other hand, incumbent Gov. Charles Turnbull's report indicates revenues of only $60,075, with expenditures of $50,518. Of the $117,836.50 raised by the de Jongh-Arnold 2002 campaign, $71,185 was received as direct contributions and $46,651.50 was earned at fundraisers. The incumbent's report shows direct contributions of only $1,570, with the remaining $58,505 coming from fundraising activities.
I find it difficult to believe the paucity of funds reported by the governor. Frankly, the governor's campaign finance numbers don't add up. After all, Gov. Turnbull is an incumbent seeking re-election. But then, these numbers may well be true, if the rumors that the governor is using government resources to run his campaign, as well as government funds to hire many of his political advisors and workers, are also true.
Anyone involved with a credible campaign for territory-wide office in the Virgin Islands understands the true cost of such an endeavor. Certainly the voters of the Virgin Islands will not be fooled by the governor's fuzzy math. If, however, he is using government resources and taxpayers' money, that is just plain wrong.
John de Jongh
St. Thomas
Candidate for Governor
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