More candidates than ever before were nominated Monday to run in the Nov. 7 elections: 43 in all, said Elections Supervisor Juliette Penn on Nomination Day.
Twenty-seven candidates will seek office in the nine district races, while 16 will contest the four territorial at-large seats.
During the 2007 elections, 36 candidates ran for office, up from 33 in 2003. Ms. Penn said the growing number of candidates has not posed a problem for her office.
There were no serious hiccups in the nominations process Monday, Ms. Penn said, adding that the closest call came when a District Seven candidate arrived just after the elections officer at that station had gone to lunch.
“But he rectified that; he came right back and dealt with him,” Ms. Penn said.
Veteran politicians and newcomers alike gathered at 10 different nomination stations with their supporters Monday to register.
At Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall, at-large candidates began arriving at about 10:30 a.m. An hour later, there was a line of candidates and residents there to nominate them or serve as a witness.
Each candidate had to fill out a form and submit a $500 deposit; then the candidate, two nominators and a witness signed the nomination form.
Raymond Phillips, elections officer for the at-large race, then administered the oath of candidacy. The process took about 10 minutes for each candidate.
Although the candidates will ultimately be competing against each other, the atmosphere inside was friendly, with candidates exchanging greetings and handshakes.
Many of the nominators were said to be some of each candidate’s strongest supporters. Vernon Malone, for example, was accompanied by two members of his nomination committee, while Keith Flax was joined by his wife, and Dr. Smith was accompanied by a fellow founding member of the National Democratic Party.
Elections Office staff reminded residents that Advance Polling Day is Nov. 4. Those who need extra time to vote — including the elderly, illiterate, blind or otherwise disabled — are permitted to go to the polls on that day, as are police officers and elections officers who will be working on Nov. 7.
This year, territorial ballots will be counted in the same locations as the district ballots, unlike in 2007, when they were all counted at the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall, Ms. Penn said. Then each district’s tally will be transported to the hall for a final count. The new system should save time, Ms. Penn said.
THE CANDIDATES
Territorial At Large
Eileene Baronville
Elton Callwood
Archibald Christian
Keith Flax
Bertrand “Washasha X” Lettsome
Edmund Maduro
Vernon Malone
Lionel Penn
Irene Penn-O’Neal
Ronnie Skelton
Dr. Orlando Smith
Khoy Smith
Shaina Smith
Zoe Walcott-McMillan
Myron Walwyn
Natalio “Sowande Uhuru” Wheatley
District One
Andrew Fahie
Preston Stoutt
District Two
Alvin Christopher
Leall Rhymer
Claude Skelton-Cline
Allewine Smith
District Three
Julian Fraser
Kevin Smith
District Four
Collin Scatliffe
Dr. Vincent Scatliffe
Mark Vanterpool
District Five
Delores Christopher
Elvis Harrigan
District Six
Omar Hodge
Alvera Maduro-Caines
District Seven
Ronnie Lettsome
Dr. Kedrick Pickering
Allen Wheatley
District Eight
Nolan Davies
Dancia Penn
Marlon Penn
Bevis Sylvester
District Nine
Hubert O’Neal
Ralph O’Neal
Rheudell Samuel O’Neal
Devon Osborne
Lorie Rymer