Efforts by some V.I. Board of Elections members to reprimand Supervisor of Elections Caroline Fawkes fell short during an emergency meeting Tuesday, as motions to suspend or terminate her narrowly failed.
The meeting, called amid escalating tensions between Fawkes and the Board, centered on her most recent decision to file a lawsuit over the candidacy of Ida Smith for Delegate to Congress — a move described Tuesday as “insubordinate” and procedurally improper.
The controversy began when Fawkes disqualified Smith, citing dual voter registration in New York and the Virgin Islands, which she argued violated residency requirements. The board, however, voted to include Smith on this year’s General Election ballot, prompting Fawkes to seek judicial clarification of her authority. That legal action sparked sharp criticism Tuesday from board member Raymond Williams, who argued that Fawkes acted without approval, jeopardizing the Elections System with potential financial liabilities.
In a call with the Source Wednesday, Williams cited Title 18 of the Virgin Islands Code, which outlines the respective roles of the Board of Elections and the Supervisor of Elections. He maintained that any legal disputes involving the Elections System must adhere to the code, which requires coordination with the Attorney General’s Office. Williams also pointed to an opinion issued by Attorney General Gordon Rhea, who had determined Smith was eligible to run despite the dual voter registration issue.
Williams argued during Tuesday’s meeting that Fawkes’s lawsuit undermined both the attorney general’s opinion and the authority of the board, calling it a breach of protocol. He added that the Superior Court had previously ruled that Fawkes could not use outside counsel to pursue the case and deferred a decision on the matter until after the election.
During the meeting, Williams moved to suspend Fawkes, describing her actions as insubordinate and a dangerous precedent that could weaken the board’s authority. The motion narrowly failed in a 5-6 vote, as did a subsequent motion by board member Epiphane Joseph to terminate Fawkes’s employment.
Other members argued that the dispute highlights broader challenges within Virgin Islands election law. While Title 18 provides a framework for resolving disputes and determining candidate qualifications, the case has exposed gaps in communication and coordination between the board and election officials — to which member Karim Francis said during the meeting could be addressed with additional training.
