Dear Source:
The power of incumbency is huge in most elections. However, one of our election practices in the Virgin Islands creates an unbelievable barrier to some potential candidates while creating a corresponding huge advantage to incumbents.
To my understanding an individual in public employment desiring to run for Senate must take an unpaid leave of absence during their campaign while sitting Senators also paid from public money have no such requirement. I’m wondering who thought this up? Why should anyone have to forgo months of income as a price of offering themselves for public office? If some legitimate reason does exist, then why does the person forgoing income have to compete with another public employee (Senator) not required to forgo income?
Common sense, basic fairness, ending the spoils system, reducing the power of office; all seem to be basic reasons to rethink this practice.
Greg Braxton-Brown
Professor of Management, UVI