At the end of Tuesday night’s vote count gubernatorial challenger Ken Mapp trailed Gov. John deJongh Jr. by 3,955-votes, for a 56.3 to 43.6 percent margin, but Mapp is not giving in just yet, according to campaign sources.
“There were some problems with voting machines in St. Thomas and also the way the results were reported without saying what polling stations were being reported,” said Mapp Campaign Manager Eugene “Doc” Petersen Wednesday morning. Petersen said the Mapp campaign is “investigating those events” and confirmed Mapp was not conceding at this time. Petersen said it was his understanding there was a problem or delay of some sort with machines at Joseph Sibilly Elementary School.
“While we don’t expect it to change the results of the election, we would like to use this opportunity to bring those things to light so the election system will consider rectifying these situations.”
Petersen said the campaign had contacted Supervisor of Elections John Abramson requesting information about problems with machines and for the precinct-by-precinct vote breakdown.
Reached at the V.I. Elections Office on St. Croix Wednesday morning, Abramson said every digital cartridge from every polling machine was counted Tuesday night. “There were no reports of any problems at Sibilly or anywhere else that I am aware of,” he said. “We had six cartridges we were waiting for, so counting ran late, but every one was counted.”
Asked about the precinct-by-precinct numbers, Abramson said those were not released last night because the elections officials and boards worked until after midnight counting and had to go home to sleep.
“We’re working on those right now as we speak,” he said.
Whether or when Mapp concedes does not affect the elections process, according to Abramson.
“That’s his position and he’s entitled to it,” he said. “But that is simply it. The people have spoken and it is a done deal for us. We are moving to certify the election by the 17th and then it will be all over.”
Mapp needs to be first jacked up then slapped, then it will be all over!
Mr. Mapp is being a sore loser. We’ve all seen this play before.
Concede already man! Don’t be such a pettifogger!
Couldn’t agree more with you.
He doesn’t know how to lose.Is as usual: “His way or the high way”. But we live in a democracy and THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN, so is about time he listen to the people, do you imagine him as a governor? Always wanting to have his will regardless?
If he had won, would he had complained about the machines?NOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Now he is questioning ALL the winners of this election!!
You don’t hear anything from a candidate that was complaining about the machines before election and wanted paper ballots. He is not saying anything now because he has won. Isn’t this very interesting?
Please, all those that carried the mops on election day, go and wipe your tears with them and Mr. Mapp, accept that the people DON’T want you!!!!!
TOGETHER FOR TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!
Take it like a man Mapp stop whinning
Mapp is so ‘full of it’. He is minipulating his followers by perpetuating these false stories of cheating. Incidentally, he NEVER conceded when he lost 4 years ago in 2006 either. We’re still waiting for the concession speech from the last election (thank God nobody is holding their breath) so don’t expect one in this loss either from this sore loser.