Plaskett handily wins re-election as territory's delegate to Congress

V.I. Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett handily won her re-election bid against two other aspirants.

Plaskett, a Democrat, beat out Republican candidate Ronald Pickard, and Independent Ida Smith, who has been in a controversial battle with the Elections System of the Virgin Islands after she was disqualified by Elections Supervisor Caroline Fawkes. Fawkes sued the board after Smith was allowed to remain on the ballot, and a Superior Court Judge on Monday, said she needed more time before making a decision about the dispute.

Fawkes filed suit on Oct. 17, against members of the Board of Elections who voted to overrule her disqualification of candidate Smith, and Judge Yvette Ross-Edwards denied her request for a temporary restraining order and scheduled a preliminary injunction hearing for Monday. The record of proceeding from the hearing has not yet been made public. “The Court took the Board’s argument under advisement,” according to a statement from Attorney General Gordon Rhea, who commended Assistant Attorney General Christopher Timmons “for his thoughtful presentation” arguing on behalf of the Department of Justice, which is representing the board.