Challengers Take Full Advantage Of Only Forum For Debate With Incumbents
In general it went this way:
Sen. Adlah “Foncie” Donastorg and Sam Baptiste were a finely-tuned team.
James “Jimmy” O’Bryan and Pamela Richard-Samuel hit the issues dead-on and O’Bryan blew away the smoke on the real issues created by the deJongh Administration.
Luz James and Glen Smith will “follow the law.”
John deJongh and Gregory Francis inherited everything so they can’t be held responsible.
An ever more suspicious “bomb threat” delayed the start of the forum sponsored by the Democratic Party for the Governor and Lt. Governor candidates Thursday at the WTJX -TV studios on St. Croix.
And as we listened one message was clear – even at this late date the deJongh Administration believes this community will believe whatever it says, no matter what it has done. And the challengers, both for governor and lieutenant governor, clearly welcomed the only opportunity they’ve had to go head-to-head with the incumbents.
The format of the forum did not allow for direct rebuttal between the candidates, but O’Bryan and Donastorg both took opportunities to directly refute the Governor’s comments on issues, particularly in discussions about official integrity and the handling of the property tax issue.
Property taxes were another area where the challengers took issue with the incumbent. With the exception of James, the challengers included some measure of “forgiveness” for taxpayers who are facing the prospect of four years of uncollected taxes coming due in the next year. James responded that he needed to get a first-hand analysis of the financial condition of the Territory before making a determination on the tax issue. Donastorg also raised ethical questions about why the Administration did not collect taxes for so long.
We learned that the fiscal condition of the Territory is the issue that causes the incumbent to have “sleepless nights” and that the crime situation gives him a “headache.” The challengers all had more specific approaches to reducing government expense and crime, with all stating that some type of independent evaluation of the situations were necessary to determine what the highest priorities will be.
Perhaps the most significant exchange came during a flash round of questioning when candidates were required to simply give a “yes or no” answer. All the challengers said the Territory could have done a much better job in negotiating the Digeo deal – only deJongh said no.
The Water and Power Authority (WAPA), the cost of energy, and ways to lower it were another point of discussion, with James and O’Bryan advocating upgrading of the current WAPA plant for immediate relief; Donastorg recommending negotiations with the government of Venezuela for prices concessions on fuel purchased from Hovensa; and deJongh discussing plans he said his administration has in process to acquire means of alternative energy.
Other topics included education; health care; same sex marriage (all said no); prayer in the schools (all said yes); and the need for a Chief Financial Officer to oversee the budget (all said no).
And while all agreed that the Constitution, whenever it is ready, should go to the people for a vote, deJongh reiterated his lack of support for the document, while the other candidates, in particular James who was president of the Fifth Constitutional Convention, stressed that the document as published is only a “draft” and that if the Convention is allowed to reconvene, that adjustments and amendments can be made prior to taking the document to a vote.
In the end, there were clear winners and losers – but we’re going to keep our predictions to ourselves and let all of you speak at the polls on Saturday.
Donastorg/Baptiste is the most complete team for Governor/Lt. Governor. Its clear to see.
No paper ballots, voting machines only!
Unless they meet one of a very short, specific list of criteria, voters must use the territory’s electronic voting machines to cast their vote in this Saturday’s primaries and November’s general election, Supervisor of Elections John Abramson Jr. said at pre-primary press conference Thursday.
Members of both the St. Croix and the St. Thomas-St. John boards of elections were also at the press conference.
According to Abramson, the rules established by the two district boards of elections say provisional ballots may be issued only when:
– a voter’s name does not appear on the roster and elections officers cannot determine registration status;
– a voter who is not listed and is verified to be ineligible disputes the ruling;
– a first-time voter does not have identification; or
– a citizen is voting as a result of a court order extending polling hours.
If a person does not meet one of these criteria, they must use the regular electronic machines and cannot simply opt for a provisional ballot out of personal preference, Abramson said.
http://stcroixsource.com/content/news/local-news/2010/09/09/voters-must-use-voting-machines-say-elections-officials
We should have organized an exit poll.
Donastorg/ BAPTISTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE………….
While the Donastorg/Baptiste team faired well last night, i still struggle with the fact that Fonzie was one of those Senators that voted for the last Hess agreement! As a West-man, who suffers daily from the pollution of Hess, I cant do it! Luz may not be the smoothest talker, and may not be able to repeat all that political rhetoric, but he stood up for our people with Bert during the Casino Control Act, and he stood up for our people during the Constitution process. He really sounds the most sincere? But is he electable? Will my vote for Luz just split up the votes and allow Dejongh back in? Or should i swallow my pride and vote for fonzie just to get Dejongh out?! Cheeze and bread, mehson! Allyou send help
don’t forget that Donastorg’s running mate, Baptiste, is a long time employee of Hess/Hovensa.
Last night we saw candidates that could not differenciate between fact and fiction nor could they differenciate between reality and fantacy. deJongh Francis clearly showed why they won in 2006 and why they will be re-elected in 2010.
Donastorg/ Baptiste will blow out John .
CIF, you hit the nail on the head.
This administration inherited the problems so they do not need to be held accountable.
I have to use a local term here…cheese & bread!
West man, Foncie is the senator that has pushed for all these hearings about HESS and the pollution even the most recent one.
@Krista
Yup, right out of the Obama playbook!
@ West Man.
While Foncie did vote for hess/hovensa, he has been fighting right along with the rest of STX for the environmental issues arising from hess. West Man maybe swallowing your pride and giving him the vote for gov. will be better. As as senator he can vote yes or no. As a gov. he can get on a plane go to venezuela and correct the problem from 1998 and make t even better. Remember back then it was hess that had controling interest in the company. Today the very nation that provides the crude oil to hovensa also controls the majority interest in the very same company. Donastorg said he will make Hovensa do the will of the virgin islands in contract negotiations this time around. Wouldnt you like to pay around a dollar for a gallon of gas. Really west man look online and see what boston, mass. did for there state by negotiating directly with hovensa. They enjoy the benifits of cheap gas. So, its not like we have to start from fresh with the permission from the dept. of interior. Mass. already layed the ground work and hovensa IS in our back yard and WILL NOT pack up and move. They WILL give us what is asked for. The problem is, all these years no one has used the leverage we have to make them do what we want. Remember a senator can propose to do something and submit what they want done. Once Donastorg is gov. he can pick up a phone and make a phone call to open negotiations and make them do what we need. Hovensa has polluted the land all around the refinery, dont you think that is very good grounds to have the epa on there back? They wouldnt want that and they would rather pay to fix the problems and give us what we need. CHEAPER GAS, NO BLACK STUFF ON THE ROOFS, AND CLEAN WATER! Donastorgs vote was in 1998 we are now in 2010, during that time he fought all the big battles others did not want to touch as senator. DOnt you West Man think that as gov. he wouldnt fight even BIGGER fights and actually have the backing and the people to take it to the bigger companies!!
@ ‘West Man’:
It is quite a dilemma and I feel your pain.
Sometimes,however,one has to do what one has to do in order to accomplish what one really wants.
Looking at the ‘big picture’ I’d say ‘swallow your pride’ and follow
your gut feelings.
Make your vote count!
Jimmy was full of anger and contempt. Even though the rules of the event said personal attack would not be permitted,Jimmy began and ended on the same vengeful venomous note. Such a display of lack of composure makes him a non player. But the frosting on the cake was Jimmy talking about weeding out corruption when he was a major player in the “Contracts and Cronies” administration of Governor Turnbull were millions were stolen and some, I repeat, some of those involved are in Federal Detention Facilities. Jimmy better hope in that some of them in their spare time doesn’t decide to write a book. Jimmy was part of the most corrupt administration ever in the history of the Virgin Islands but there he was last night angry out of control pointing his finger across the table suggesting he could weed out corruption. Lawd hurry de judge!
Foncie says because he can speak Spanish he can deal with Chavez and Puerto Rico. Now I know why some call him Duncie. From what I heard him say last night he has absolutely now idea what the goals of Hugo Chavez are. Sure he will sell petro products at a reduced price but not because he is mister nice dictator but because he has a goal of Marxist enslavement. Yes but Foncie can appease Chavez just like Neville Chamberlin sold out the Sudetanland to Adolph Hitler, and now according to Foncie, if he just goes and makes a deal with Chavez there will be henceforth dollar gas on STT! Is there anyone who really believes this?
Somebody tell Mario that the information he is giving out bad information on the ability to vote with a provisional ballot. John Abramson just said that unless there is a question about your eligibility that you will be directed to vote on the machine.
Now Mario is still saying that whether you are documented as eligible or not, you can ask for a provisional ballot.
It is too late in the day for confusion. I’m dialing but can’t get in and now russell is going to be on. Those who can keep trying as he’s going to cause a lot of problems tomorrow if he doesn’t get it right.
Hopefully bert will clarify it when he comes on later this afternoon.
Anonymous Foncie still better than deJONGH … Yall gone be crying tomorrow night …So talk about Foncie
Thats why Mario Moorhead just endorsed him . On election day Foncie all the way .
MARIO JUST ENDORSED ADLAH “FONCIE” DONASTORG!!!!!! Due to the threats he was getting he had to do it indirectly.
Donastorg/Baptiste 2010!!
And he can send Mario to deal with Chavez for cheap gas while they also help develop Mario’s Marxist game plane for a revolution. This is a dream scenario for Mario and Foncie. Is this what we have come to here?