August 7, 2006 – The Board of Elections has finalized the line-up for the St. Croix primary elections on Sept. 9.
On the ballot will be Democratic Party candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, senator-at-large, district senators, state chair and territorial district committee. Also on the ballot are Republican candidates for the offices of district chair and members of the territorial district committee. Rounding out the list are candidates for the Board of Elections, St. Croix district.
Voters registered with the Democratic Party will choose one of three gubernatorial teams on primary election day. Those teams are John DeJongh and Gregory Francis; Edgar Ross and Lorraine Berry; and Vargrave Richards and Roy D. Jackson. The winning team will go up against independent candidates Kenneth Mapp and Almando "Rocky" Liburd; and Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg and Cora Christian in the Nov. 7 general election.
The incumbent Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen does not have an opponent in the primary elections, so she will not be on the ballot. On Nov. 7 she will face independent Warren B. Mosler in the general elections.
Competing for the Democratic senator-at-large nomination are incumbent Craig W. Barshinger; William Belardo, who has run several times for the position; and newcomer Elsie Thomas-Trotman. The winner will face ICM candidate Carmen M. Wesselhoft in the general elections.
There are 10 candidates vying for seven seats in the Democratic district senator nomination. The top seven vote getters will advance to the general elections.
Incumbent senators include Neville James, Juan Figueroa-Serville and Ronald E. Russell. James and Serville are presently freshmen senators and Russell is serving his second term.
Missing from the line-up of incumbents is freshman senator Sen. Pedro "Pete" Encarnacion, who was the second highest vote getter in his first senatorial bid in 2004. His name did not appear on the BOE's listing of candidates seeking office. He has yet to make an official statement regarding his political future.
Two former senators, Emmett Hansen II and Luther Renee, have again thrown their hat into the ring. Renee first ran for a seat in the 2000 elections but was unsuccessful. In 2002 he switched to the Democratic Party and won with the second highest number of votes. Renee was subsequently ousted in the 2004 primary. Hansen is a two-term senator who was first elected in 2001 and ousted in the 2004 general elections.
Trying again to win a senatorial seat are Wayne James and Michael Thurland. James launched an unsuccessful write-in campaign in 2004; this is Thurland's third successive attempt.
Rounding out the lineup for senatorial candidates are newcomers Cenita C. Heywood, Sammuel Sanes and James Weber III.
The Democratic team will face a list of candidates including – Rhea D. Dowling (No Party); Luis "Luisito" Garcia (Republican); Hope Gibson (No Party); Naomi "Sandra" Joseph (No Party); Norman Jn Baptiste (No Party); Troy D. Mason (No Party); Gosnel Matthew (No Party); George Moore (No Party); Terrance "Positive" Nelson (ICM); Usie Raymond Richards (ICM); and Gonzalo Rivera (No Party).
Party Officers and Committee Members
Officers and members will be elected for Board of Elections and the Democratic and Republican Party committees. These positions will be determined by the primary elections; candidates will not advance to the general elections.
— Board Of Elections
Yvette J. Edwards
Florine Audain-Hassell
Jacqueline J. Heyliger
Alvin "Ali" Paul
Rupert Ross Jr.
Raymond J. Williams
Reuben Fenton
–Democratic State Chair (Territorial)
Cecil R. Benjamin
Mark D. Hodge
Luis "Tito" Morales
Barbara Petersen
Marylyn A. Stapleton
— Democratic Territorial Committee At Large
Florine Audain-Hassell
Sherrymae Barnes-Morales
Omar B.U. Henry
Colin "Massive" Hodge
Deborah James-Pickard
Carla Joseph
Leroy Marchena
Luis "Tito" Morales
Wanda L.C. Morris
Barbara Petersen
Cedric Prince
Marylyn A. Stapleton
Glen Smith
–Democratic District Chair
Dodson K. James- was not opposed and is elected chair
— Democratic Territorial Committee District of St. Croix
Alicia Barnes
Sonia L. Boyce
Yvette J. Edwards
Valencio Jackson
Raymond T. James
Dorothy M. Joseph
Alvin "Ali" Paul
Lorraine Quinton
Melody Rames-Wiggins
Raymond J. Williams
Ophelia "Nemmy" Williams-Jackson
— Republican State Chair (Territorial)
Lawrence T. Boschulte
Herb Schoenbohn
— Republican Territorial Committee At Large
George Blackhall
Herb Schoenbohn
Atty. Fred Vialet
— Republican Territorial Committee District of St. Croix
Edward L. Browne
Patricia G. Murphy
Tracy Pardo de Zela
James M. Oliver
Gladys Orr
Back Talk
Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
