Dec 13, 2004 – An opinion from Alva Swan, acting attorney general, appears to have changed the make-up of the St. Croix Board of Elections.
Recently, board members were saying that Carmen Golden, an incumbent, would remain on the board. Her position had been challenged by Hope Gibson.(See "Charges Made After Board Confrontation").
Golden had lost in the Democratic primary to Dodson K. James by a count of 735 to 638
In the general election she had received 27 write-in votes. Gibson had received the second highest number of write-ins with 15. However, at the time of the election Golden was registered as a Democrat and there were already four Democrats serving on the board, the maximum allowable by law.
Golden changed her registration after the election. Gibson had challenged in letters to the board and to the supervisor of elections the legality of Golden making that change.
The attorney general ruled on Dec. 10 that a candidate would not be eligible for a seat on the board of elections by changing their party affiliation after the election.
The Board of Elections in an emergency meeting on Monday decertified Golden's election to the board. John Abramson, supervisor of elections, held a press conference at 4 p.m. announcing that decertification.
Gibson contacted Monday evening said that she heard nothing about the meeting except through media sources that had contacted her.
She said, "I am really happy the AG ruled as he did. It was obvious."
As far as her receiving a seat on the board, she said she was taking a "wait and see" attitude. However, she added, "I look forward to working with the board and making it more transparent and protective of the rights of V.I. voters."
Abramson, said Monday the board had asked him to get an opinion from the attorney general to see if a candidate could change their party affiliation after the election, and the ruling said, "The short answer is no."
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