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Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Hansen is Officially Back on Ballot

The St. Croix District Board of Elections put former Sen. Alicia “Chucky” Hansen back on the ballot Monday without contentious discussion.

Board member and former Sen. Adelbert Bryan, who was the most vocal opponent of allowing Hansen on the ballot, was absent. Bryan was also absent during the court hearing that led to the court decision that forced the board to put Hansen back on the ballot.

Attorney Royette Russell from the Attorney General’s Office, who represented the board, said that an opinion from Judge Douglas Brady, based on a hearing last week, indicated that Hansen should be on the ballot.  Russell said that the opinion stated that Hansen had “complied with Virgin Islands law” and was “properly registered.”

Attorney General Claude Earl Walker had originally objected to the challenge that the board had based its removal of Hansen from the ballot saying the challenge was not correctly filed. Subsequently another  challenge was filed by Peter Abraham.

Abraham’s  challenge was dismissed Monday on the advice of Russell.  Russell said that challenge was based on “identical” concerns raised in the first challenge. She said the judge had dealt with those concerns “comprehensively.”

At the end of the meeting, an audience member questioned whether St. Croix District Board Chairwoman Lilliana Belardo de O’Neal was correct in seconding motions that put Hansen back on the ballot.  Belardo de O’Neal said she had seconded motions before and she asserted that it was allowable. The motions she seconded were passed when no objections were heard.

The four board members attending the meeting were Belardo De O’Neal, Lisa Harris-Moorhead, Glenn Webster and Roland Moolenaar.

The board spent most of the meeting Monday discussing polling places for the upcoming general election. The Juanita Gardine Elementary School was found to be not compliant for handicap access.  The board moved that funds should be found to build a ramp that would make it compliant.

The board also voted that the polling stations at Elena Christian Junior High and JFK housing communities be moved to St. Dunstan High School.

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