Sept. 10, 2006 – Cecil Benjamin retained his post as state chair of the Democratic Party for a second term in Saturday's primary election, picking up 29.5 percent of the vote, overshadowing runner-up Marylyn Stapleton, who garnered 22.9 percent.
Luis Morales finished third, followed by Barb Petersen and Mark Hodge, with four write-in votes.
Supervisor of Elections John Abramson said Sunday that although he could not yet provide the total number of Democrats who voted Saturday, the public count number for both districts is 14,338 which includes all people that participated in both districts: Democrat, Republic and ICM.
"However," Abramson said, "if you look at the statistics on the Elections Web site, you will see that the lion's share is Democratic voters who topped the 40 percent mark."
Abramson said he was pleased with the election process Saturday. With one exception: "I read in an article that people were upset because the provisional envelopes weren't sticking together," Abramson said. "I love it. If that's the biggest problem I have, I'll take that any day."
In other party contests, four candidates were elected to the St. Thomas-St. John Democratic Territorial Committee: Edouard de LaGarde, Mark Hodge, Sandra Thomas-Mason and Sean Magras. There were 87 write-in votes.
Six candidates were elected to the St. Croix Democratic Territorial Committee: Alicia Barnes, Raymond Williams, "Nemmy" Williams-Jackson, Wanda Morris, Valencio Jackson and Sonia Boyce. There were 27 write-in votes.
Herbert Schoenbohm retained his seat as the Republican Party state chair, a still unofficial count.
Eloi George was elected to the St. Thomas-St. John Republican Territorial Committee. He was unopposed. There were eight write-in votes.
Schoenbohm, Fred Vialet Jr. and George Blackhall were elected to the Republican Territorial Committee-At-Large, with 81 write-in votes.
Democrats competing for a seat on the Boards of Elections in both districts narrowed the number from nine to five. The winners will be decided in the general election against Republican opponents.
There are seven members on each district board, but the St-Thomas-St. John district board must have at least two St. John residents.
In the St. Thomas-St. John District, Arturo Wattlington held on to his seat, which expires in January, and newcomer Claudette Georges won the second seat. On St. Croix, incumbents Raymond Williams and Rupert Ross kept their seats, while newcomer Jacqueline Heyliger took the third open post. Yvette Edwards, Florine-Audain Hassell and Deborah James-Pickard didn't make the cut on St. Croix.
Complete Results for Democratic Party offices
St. Croix Democratic Territorial Committee: (six seats)
Alicia Barnes 1,576
Raymond Williams 1,537
Nemmy" Williams-Jackson 1,210
Wanda Morris 1,185
Valencio Jackson 1,195
Sonia Boyce 908
Yvette Edwards 885
Sherrymae Barnes Morales 871
Lorraine Quinton 870
Raymond James 823
Melody Rames-Wiggens 688
Dorothy Joseph 420
Democratic Territorial Committee-At-Large: (16 seats)
Alvin Paul 2,998
Luis Morales 2,699
Marylyn Stapleton 2,608
Glen Smith 2,467
Barb Petersen 1,737
Collin Hodge 1,506
Florine-Audain Hassell 1,500
Leroy Marchena 1,359
Carla Joseph 1,354
Omar Henry 1,189
Cedric Prince 1,036
Write-in 215
