Mapp Signs Eight Bills Into Law; Among Them One Making It Harder To Seek Public Office

ST. THOMAS — Governor Kenneth Mapp has signed into law eight bills — among them one making it harder for potential candidates to seek office by increasing the amount of signatures needed to qualify. The original bill — sponsored by Senator Kenneth Gittens — called for a jump from 50 to as much as 250, but with pressure mounting from dissenters who argued that the measure, more than anything else, disenfranchises residents interested in running for office, the number was decreased.

Mr. Mapp also approved the following elections-related measures:

Bill No, 31-0102 clarifies the prohibition on filing nomination papers for the office of Governor and Lieutenant Governor by candidates who are not of the same political parties.
Bill No. 31-0265 clarifies ambiguous interpretations of our elections law, and repeals terms which caused confusion and are no longer necessary.
Bill No. 31-0327 establishes a 200 feet safe area around polling places where electioneering is prohibited.

The governor signed bill No. 31-0301 into law. The measure authorizes all income from the Lonesome Dove Petroleum Company to be applied towards the G.E.R.S. unfunded liability. It also provides for $500,000 to be deposited into the Senior Citizens’ Fund.

“I thank the senate for approving my proposal and creating a Senior Citizen Revolving Fund to aid in keeping our senior citizen centers open and in good working order,” the Mr. Mapp wrote in his letter to Senate President Neville James.

The governor also approved bill No. 31-0182, which will help ensure Virgin Islanders are notified of job vacancies on publicly financed projects. It will also provide the Department of Labor with access to more accurate information and improve its enforcement efforts.

“This measure will result in greater availability of job opportunities to local residents who are seeking employment,” the governor stated.