CHARLOTTE AMALIE — V.I. Board of Elections member Robert “Max” Schanfarber, R-Thomas, sent the following correspondence to fellow members and Supervisor of Elections Caroline Fawkes in response to the creation of district committees under the Board of Elections at today’s meeting:
“Upon examination, I want to clarify that I am opposed to the creation of district committees under the Board of Elections in each district to conduct, oversee, administer, or otherwise regulate, in any way, shape or form, elections within a district.
“I did not fully understand what was being proposed at the time of the meeting earlier today, as it was not on the agenda.
“I believe this puts the Board of Elections into potential conflict with the intent of the legislation establishing the present unified, territory-wide board as it and it alone is to conduct, oversee, administer, or otherwise regulate, in any way, shape or form, elections across the territory, irrespective of district. Should there be the need for district-specific training, it is my opinion and belief that the Supervisor of Elections and/or her designee is entitled to do this at a staff level.
“Accordingly, I am opposed to what was passed and ask for its immediate reconsideration at the next meeting of the board.
“I also request that the Supervisor of Elections and/or her designee identify all actions (votes, motions, resolutions, policies, procedures, rules, regulations and the like) adopted, promulgated, passed or otherwise enacted by the now-dissolved district and joint boards of election between August 1, 2017, and the Supreme Court’s ruling so that this Board of Elections may affirmatively address each and every one of those actions, including the budget and all human resources/personnel matters, in accordance with court orders and the binding legal opinion of the Attorney General.”