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HomeNewsArchivesSt. Thomas-St. John Elections Board Cancels Friday’s Joint Meeting

St. Thomas-St. John Elections Board Cancels Friday’s Joint Meeting

July 12, 2007 — Although a joint Board of Elections meeting was set for Friday to discuss would-be Constitutional Convention delegate Harry Daniel’s appeal of the board’s decision Tuesday, the meeting will not go on as planned.
At its meeting Thursday, the board upheld its decision to move forward with the certification of elected delegates from the June 12 special election. Board member Arturo Watlington Jr. expressed his objections to meeting with the joint board on an issue “that has been discussed twice.”
“I don’t believe it’s a joint-board issue,” said Lorna A.C. Thomas, elections board member. There is no need for a meeting with members from the St. Croix Board of Elections because the ballot change was done in the St. Thomas-St. John district, she said. (See “Election Boards on Notice for Possible Appeal Challenge.”)
On June 6, St. Thomas-St. John district board members agreed on a redesigned ballot and went ahead with testing. Daniel claims be never saw the revised ballot before the June 12 election.
Also discussed at Thursday’s meeting was the elections system’s FY 2008 budget proposal, which is about $9,000 dollars less than the $63,186 appropriation for FY 2007, according to Watlington. Members expressed disappointment in not having any knowledge or input in the budget process.
After a STT-STJ District Board of Elections meeting last week, members shared their discontent with the chairwoman of the joint Board of Elections, Alecia Wells. They criticized her for signing the budget without consulting other board members.
"It was our first time seeing the budget, and we are not able to function as a board," Thomas said.
“Last year we had the opportunity to give our input, and we got the monies requested,” Watlington added.
The budget comes from local funds and is used for stipends, supplies, travel and professional services. The board plans to ask for more funds at its budget hearing July 27 before the Senate Finance Committee on St. Croix. Among other things, the board plans to use funds to provide specialized training for Elections employees and to promote election awareness in high schools.
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