Nov. 17, 2008 — The more than 900 outstanding absentee and provisional ballots counted by Board of Elections members over the past 10 days did nothing to change the outcome of this year's St. Thomas-St. John Senate race, which the board officially certified Monday afternoon.
Final results from St. Croix — which will include the territorial totals for the senator-at-large and St. Croix Senate seats — will not be certified until Tuesday, according to elections officials. However, it appears that nothing has changed in those areas since the last of the ballots were counted, they said. (See "Nelson, Malone Big Winners in Senate Race.")
The final results also pave the way for a nine-member Democratic majority in the Senate, whose members have been meeting since the unofficial General Election results were announced early this month. (See "Donastorg Expected to Lead New Senate.")
Building up his tally from the General Election held earlier this month, Sen. Shawn-Michael Malone was the top vote getter in the St. Thomas-St. John district, pulling in a final 8,071 votes. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg slid into second place with 7,621 votes, while Sen. Louis P. Hill's final 6,816 votes pushed him into the third Senate spot.
In an official statement released Monday, the Legislature's incoming majority leader, Sen. Neville James, made public the members of the new caucus, which has officially tapped Donastorg as Senate president, along with newcomer Michael Thurland as vice president of the 28th Legislature.
"The people have spoken and it is our intent to provide the kind of leadership that all who reside in the Virgin Islands expect and deserve," James said. "Our caucus represents a solid blend of experience, intelligence, work ethic and fresh ideas. We look forward to adopting sound legislation, exercising our oversight responsibilities and working with the executive branch to truly exemplify the checks and balances that good government demands."
Sen. Alvin L. Williams picked up 6,373 votes to win the fourth spot and a second term in the Senate, while Sen. Patrick Simeon Sprauve — recently tapped by local Democratic Party members to serve out the term of former Sen. Basil Ottley Jr. — picked up 5,211 votes to clench the district's fifth Senate seat. Rounding out the district's seven are Sen. Celestino A. White Sr. with 5,129 votes and Sen. Carlton "Ital" Dowe with 5,042 votes.
Newcomer Sammuel Sanes out of St. Croix has also been tapped by the incoming majority as the Legislature's secretary. Rounding out the new majority are Hill, Williams, Craig W. Barshinger, Sprauve and Wayne James, according to Monday's announcement.
Delegate Donna M. Christensen, who ran uncontested in the Nov. 4 General Election, pulled in 9,536 votes from St. Thomas and St. John, according to the official results.
St. Thomas-St. John District Board of Education members Judy M. Gomez, Debra Smith-Watlington and Keith Richards have kept their seats for another term, while Arah C. Lockhart's final 3,573 votes was enough claim the board's fourth open seat.
Board of Education member at-large Oswin Sewer Sr., who ran uncontested this year, officially reclaimed his seat with 4,618 votes.
Rounding out the slate of this year's winners are four who will serve another term on the St. Thomas-St. John District Board of Elections: Colette White-Amaro, Lawrence "Larry" Boschulte, Lorna A.C. Thomas and Alecia Wells.
Signing off on the results during a meeting Monday afternoon were White-Amaro, Claudette Georges, Leona Smith, Thomas and Wells. According to statistics provided by elections officials, the count of ballots in the St. Thomas-St. John district included 500 walk-in absentee, 264 mail-in absentee and 163 provisional. Board members have up to 10 days after a General Election to count the outstanding ballots and up to 15 days to certify the results.
Out of a total 26,020 eligible voters in the district, 14,886 — or 57 percent — cast their ballots for this year's General Election.
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