Good day, and welcome to the League of Women Voters.

Meet the Candidates Forum, a program produced in collaboration with WTJX TV for well over 35 years.

It is our hope that through these programs, you, the voting public, will have a better understanding of each candidate running for elective office in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

We invite you to look at all our programs for the 2024 election year right here on WTJ X TV with candidates seeking office as a senator in the 36th legislature, or as delegates for the Constitutional Convention for the first time.

Also, we are interviewing candidates for the boards of Education and Election.

Although all the candidates for these positions were invited, not all responded or accepted the invitation.

We are delighted to have here today three candidates running for the position of delegates for the Constitutional Convention in the Saint Thomas Saint John District.

I am Doctor Andrea Dorsey, a member of the League of Women Voters of the Virgin Islands, and I will serve as the moderator for today's program.

The candidates have been informed in advance of the guidelines for the program.

No candidate had access to the questions in advance.

The first responder to each question will be rotated among the participants.

Timing of a question will be announced in advance.

Any comment directed specifically at a participant by another participant will be followed by a rebuttal of 60s.

A 45 second follow up may be allowed.

All are expected to be respectful of everyone else.

So let's begin.

I will ask each candidate to identify who they are and to state their ballot number.

We will learn more about each as our discussion ensues.

So let's start with Mr. Stedman Hodge, junior.

Hi.

Good day.

I'm Stedman Hodge Jr.

Candidate number five for the as a delegate for the sixth constitutional Convention.

Thank you.

And now we have Mr. Rudel A. Hodge junior.

Good day everybody.

My name is Rudel, A. Hodge junior.

ballot number six candidate for the sixth Constitutional Convention.

The US Virgin Islands.

Thank you.

And now we have Mr. Arturo Watlington, junior.

Hi, Good day.

My name is Doctor Watlington Jr.

I've been told that my ballot number is number four.

Thank you.

So let's start with Mr. Watlington on the very first question.

What motivated you to become a delegate for the sixth Constitutional Convention?

Now, please note each of you will have 60s to respond to this question.

Mr. Watlington.

Well, this is the third time I'm actually a candidate for the Constitutional Convention in the Virgin Islands, for the Constitution, for the Virgin Islands.

I know a young person coming out of law school.

I, attempted to run, for the fourth Constitutional Convention and, due to some technicality, I was not on that convention.

I was a member on this fifth constitutional convention, and I believe that it's important to have a constitution for the Virgin Islands.

And thus I have, petitioned to be a delegate for the six constitutional convention, which I believe, in political status and political independence is very important.

And it's important that we do have a constitution for the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Thank you, Mr. Watlington.

Mr. Rudel A. Hodge junior.

The reason why I petitioned to be on the ballot for this election is a couple of things.

One is paying it forward.

I think my experiences with JSA, Junior Statesman of America, close up, in my high school career really aligned me to, like, a political focus future.

And then just my research, it was very interesting to learn while I was in college that the Virgin Islands does not have a constitution.

When basically every other state and on and, or territory has one.

And also understand that the last, the last, convention happened when I was in high school, and this would be the first time that is happening since I just saw the opportunity to be able to give to the Virgin Islands, bring my knowledge.

I'm also a lawyer.

I studied political philosophy so it doesn't align with my core interests and hobbies and passions.

Thank you so much, Mr. Hodge and Mr. Stedman Hodge Jr. All right.

Thank you.

Actually serving on the fifth Constitutional Convention.

And that was my first time being elected to any type of public office.

To be a member of the convention is also pretty much as nonpartisan.

So there's no political affiliations that are involved.

We the territory does not have a constitution.

We're guided right now.

We have the Organic Act.

We were able to draft a document in the fifth, complete the document, voted on the corrections for all the required amendments, but it was not forwarded at that time to, to be approved or eventually to be ratified by the people of the Virgin Islands.

It is needed.

It is necessary, for us to have, for all of the territory, to have a real interest in our path forward so that we can truly be organized as a territory and.

Yes.

And my time is up.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

As you have alluded to previous constitutional conventions.

The next question would be, were any of you a delegate in any previous constitutional conventions?

If so, why do you think the process did not end with a congressionally approved document?

So I'd like to start with Mr. Watlington, It's very interesting.

Well.

We had some of the most, brilliant minds and politicians on the fifth Constitutional Convention was lodged 36 members, I believe.

And, the major downfall was one the formation of a minority and a minority.

Number two, the insistence on some of the people in the majority to, maintain a native definition and give native rights to individuals who were born in the Virgin Islands, which is something that will never meet U.S. constitutional muster.

So those two items created a problem that, caused the Constitution to fail.

we were given an opportunity to correct it.

at a ultimatum meeting, and it didn't happen.

Thank you, Mr. Watlington.

I would also like to extend to Mr. Rudel A. Hodge, Jr. once again, you have 60 seconds to respond to this question.

So I was not part of any previous constitutional conventions.

Like I said, the last one that that I know of was in 2009.

I was still a freshman in high school.

And to my knowledge, based on what Mr. Watlington just stated, they had clauses in there that wouldn't, you know, necessary be allowed under the US system.

Also, there was typos that need to be corrected.

So those are some of the issues that caused the the last convention to fail.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

Mr. Stedman Hodge jr. You have 60 seconds.

All right.

Thank you.

As a member of the fifth Council constitutional convention, yes, there was a majority and a minority.

Everyone was still able to, participate in every debate that we had.

The various committees that we had, everyone participated.

I do agree that we had nine amendments that needed to be made.

One of the biggest challenges is that the current governor at that time, did not forward the docume Yes, we had in the document that it would have been a native born Virgin Islander and would have been governor.

So that would have also excluded even a descendant there of and then I am going to agree that it was a challenge, and that's why, we were not, successful.

And.

and hopefully this, this convention will be to address those issues.

Thank you for your responses.

The next question is what, in your opinion, could be done to increase the chances for success of this convention?

What role would you possibly would like to play in this?

And we're going to start with Mr. Stedman Hodge Jr. You have 60 seconds.

Yes.

Thanks for the question.

Then what we have to really look at in doing things differently is, right now we have budgeted for 300,000.

That came in two different appropriations through the legislature of the Virgin Islands.

To have that budget, knowing, that we have to manage our budget within a timeline, establishing, an actual schedule that last nine months.

Historically, every the, every convention has actually when cutting it close to that one year period.

So there are a lot of different factors that we must put in place in order for it to be successful.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

We're going to move to Mr. Rudel Hodge, Jr.

So for this Constitution convention, I think technology is going to be one of the biggest factors.

I believe in 2009, this is still the earliest part of the internet where we will not be able to do as much comparative research.

There's a lot more tools available to us now in this present day and age, which will allow us to, you know, correct and address a lot of the issues from the previous constitutional drafts.

And thus being a smaller group.

All right.

15 people is a lot less ideas.

And, you know, egos to feed and it will be allow us to be able to create this document that is going to, you know, usher in a new era for the Virgin Islands.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

Mr. Watlington.

I think the most important element to for us to come to some fruition with a constitution for the U.S. Virgin Islands is the participation of the people of the Virgin Islands.

People have to show the interest, especially those, as I would say, younger, who are coming after me.

I'm happy to see I'm Mr. Rudolph.

Rudolph.

Rudel Hodge here.

And I hope to see many other younger persons taking an interest.

We have seven seats that are available in this in this district, and only four people actually file a petition to run.

And again, that shows a lot of political apathy.

And I hope that we can start to create interest in the younger folks who can understand that politics really influence the economy of the Virgin Islands.

Thank you, Mr. Watlington.

Now, our next question speaks to, attitudes, dispositions and talents in preparation, for this position.

What do you see as the talents or skills or attitudes needed by all delegates if the convention is to be a success?

And we will start with Mr. Watlington.

You have 50 seconds for this que Compromise, calmness, compromising and sensitivity.

Based on my experience, having served as a senator, you have to be willing to compromise, and you have to be willing to use your common sense, and you have to do it in a calm manner.

That's not one of my best attributes.

However, I've become very intolerant over the years.

However, when you deal with a number of people, you have to keep those factors in mind and, hopefully that is something that all of us can practice to, to, to do, become, be sensitive.

Compromising.

Thank you, Mr. Watlington.

We're going to move to Mr. Rudel Hodge, Jr.

So I like to describe, this convention as a big group project of Virgin And in order for this to be successful, we have to be able to collaborate.

Right.

Some of the things you stated, such as being calm, being able to compromise, be able to be critical thinkers, are necessary tools in order to be able to get a good, project done at the end of this convention.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

And now we're moving to Mr. Stedman Hodge Jr. All right.

Thank you.

And I'm going to, piggyback off of the same words.

Compromise, commitment, and communication.

Three C's.

It's important that we, work together.

If not, it would be problematic.

We have a number of delegates who are going to have certain strengths, certain experiences.

And based on their experience, we when it comes to a committee, whether they're going to chair the committee, be a vice chair, participate in other committees is about getting the work done.

I'm not an environmentalist.

Okay.

But I may have input and participate in those, discussions.

But during those same discussions, should I want to give push back?

No, it's up to the people to decide to that.

Thank you so much, Mr. Hodge.

Our next question as a follow up.

How have you each demonstrated the skills you have shared in your career or life?

We're going to start with Mr. Stedman Hodge Jr, and you each will have 60 second to respond to this question.

Well, my background is actually human resources labor relations and compliance.

I've been doing that for many years.

I'm a certified.

USC investigator as well.

Have a, project management certificate.

When I did my master's in public administration with an emphasis in government management.

Outside of that, I mean, former, elected delegate to the fifth Constitution Convention.

I'm a former senator.

I'm currently the state chair of the Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands.

So even though we have this this whole mix, it's still it brings something to the table.

But at the same time, I have to be an active listener and, and take everything, and contribute so that as a member of the six Constitutional Convention, I am productive.

And we are all productive and doing the right thing to move the document forward.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

Mr. Watlington.

I think my experience speaks for itself.

I've been an attorney for over 44 years.

Chief.

Chief.

Chief.

Territorial public defender.

Chief legal counsel of the legislature, three term Senate.

Member the Board of Elections for over 20 years.

Member of many organizations and, various corporations and businesses.

And I've dealt and I've lived in the Virgin Islands pretty much all my life.

I have the, the willingness to serve and the willingness to see this objective through before I go to the great beyond.

Thank you, Mr. Watlington.

And Mr. Rudel Hodge, junior.

So, based on my personal experiences, I believe I'm a perfect fit for this role because, you know, I'm a lawyer.

I, you know, I study political science philosophy at Binghamton University of Public Ivy in upstate New York.

I went on to law school, the College of Law.

I'm a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, incorporated, that teaches leadership.

And, you know, that's political savviness.

I think all of those things allows me to be able to collaborate with my peers, to be able to create this document.

And I also think the most important thing is I'm passionate about diverse knowledge.

This is my home.

This is a place I love, and this is the place that I want to see, you know, be great.

And this is one of the many few steps that we could take to create a greater Virgin Islands.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

So we're moving to the next question, which speaks to diversity and its impact in what we do in what we do here in the territory.

So the question is, given the diverse demographics of the territory, how will you ensure that all voices can be heard in developing our Constitution?

And so we're going to start with Mr. Rudel A. Hodge, Jr. You have 60 seconds each to resp to this question.

So actually number two of my campaign, my platform is actually based on broad community representation.

The Virgin Islands of yesteryear of 2009 is not the Virgin Islands of tod I want to make sure there are.

We are speaking and talking to the people that make up the current Virgin Islands.

and the future Virgin Islands.

Right?

So we have to make sure that we it's a balancing act, right?

We have to make sure that we are protecting the interests of the current people and the future people.

I do believe that we should have a lot of different, you know, community outreach events, a lot of community input, a lot of people to, give their thoughts and opinions on different things that this constitutional convention will be doing over the course of the period of time that we have to draft this document.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

We're going to move to Mr. Stedman Hodge Jr. Hi.

Thank you.

Diversity is very important, especially to make sure there's equity all across the board.

I can speak to myself, three of my grandparents.

I'm not born in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

My wife is from the Commonwealth of Dominica.

So when we talk about diversity, it's all inclusive and how all those cultures come together at the same time.

We are us, a U.S. territory.

So it's a dynamic mix.

And new culture has to be incorporated into everything as we move forward at the same time.

Getting the right information into the document that would be presented to the public, for their approval and more or less, their sign off, you know, then we'll finally have a constitution in the US Virgin Islands.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

Mr. Watlington.

As you've said, we have to recognize the diversity of this, this community and how it stands as it is today.

People from all over the Caribbean, South America, Hispaniola.

And many other places.

And we have to engage all those people.

Not because I am a 3 or 4 generation native that do we believe or should we believe that that who makes the decisions we have to include the youth.

I've always been in favor of reducing reducing the age, eligibility age for those people to ratify something that important under the Constitution to individuals 16 years and up, rather than 18 and up, because we have to get to the future.

And if we don't get to the future, we've lost it.

Thank you, Mr. Watlington.

Now, there are so many different issues and factors, that can be addressed within our Constitution.

I would like to offer the opportunity for you to discuss as the next question, what are key issues that you would like to see that should be addressed in our Constitution?

And we're going to start with Mr. Watlington and be reminded that you have 60 seconds to respond to this qu One of the things that I've noticed is the, the watering down of the district representation and, how we elect, people in our legislature.

I think even though I've served, I realize there's no continuity.

Once you are elected, you come right back out in two years, and you run against those that you sit with to determine policy.

I think we need to change the way that we elect our district representatives.

I think we need to change the way that we, we have our election system operating.

Those are the two key elements that I would be focusing in focusing on so that we can have, and by your Constitution, you can do that, rather than through legislation that has not been effective.

Thank you, Mr. Watlington.

We're going to move to Mr. Rudel Hodge Jr.

So I echo some of the thoughts of Mr. Watlington.

I believe that, you know, with this Constitution, we are able to really create a fundamental level of the Virgin Islands, right?

I think something that should be important is the ability for the people to vote for our attorney general.

I think also making sure that we have protections for the environment, protection of our rights, protections for Virgin Islanders in this Constitution to the levels that we can't afford in a US system if necessary.

And thus making sure that we have a document that is easily understandable by the normal regular Virgin Islander.

We wanted something that's not in super legal jargon.

We want something that anybody can just pick up and read it, understand it, understand that these are the rights that have been given because I was born here or because I was I live in this area.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

We're moving to Mr. Stedman Hodge Jr.

Yes.

I'm also going to piggyback off of Mr. Watlington.

Mr. Rudel A. Hodge Jr.

When it comes to electing the election officials here in the territory, one of the consideration that I'd be looking at is whether we should have, staggered terms, number of seats, terms extended to six years.

So that's going to be some great dialog.

Should we elect, our attorney general?

Okay.

Which would create, any type of conflicts of interest based on, who that attorney may have represented, but now is the people that's making that decision.

So, there's a number of the other key areas, but overall, I'm quite sure that, this, this six council convention is going to drive a different narrative.

And, and ultimately we'll have we will have a constitution.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

Now, let's shift, to looking at and discussing earlier iterations of our constitutional efforts.

And so the next question speaks to when we reflect upon early iterations of our constitutional efforts.

Some delegates conflated issues of political status with those of government organizations and functions within a territory.

If this occurs again, how can it be addressed?

We're going to start with Mr. Stedman Hodge Jr, and please be reminded that you have 60 secs to respond to this question Yes.

Can you repeat a question for me, please?

Sure.

In earlier iterations of our constitutional efforts, some delegates conflated issues of political status with those of government organization and function within the territory.

If this occurs again, how can it be addressed?

Yes.

And this is over the many years, even if it's outside of the, previous conventions.

Status has always been an issue.

Should we have a status or should we be independent, a state or even a commonwealth?

And we need to decide that first.

But here we are, functioning without defining actual status.

And can we be independent right now?

The answer is no.

Now, when we tie that on to government agencies, I remember the fifth Constitutional Convent We were talking about changing the, I think it was the seal of the US Virgin Islands, but that comes also with an additional cost.

But it's going to take all of us to navigate it properly.

Through and then, of course, having the right legal counsel to give us guidance and having those town halls and getting, the input from the community is what will drive and change that narrative.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

We're going to move to Mr. Watlington.

We really can't stop people from differentiating or I should say, mashing status with, with, with with internal political operations.

Status has always been an issue.

I disagree.

Any place can be independent.

Whether or not you can be economic, it is economically feasible is a different situation.

So we have to, understand what our task is.

And our task is to work on a document within the framework of the US Constitution.

Once we keep our focus on that.

I think there should be no problems.

However, they are going to be some individuals who are going to willfully create the issue of status, external status.

This will be an internal operating document.

Call a constitution.

Thank you, Mr. Watlington.

Mr. Rudel A. Hodge, Jr.

Yes, I have jotted it here.

It does focus on the task at hand as Mr. Watlington alluded to.

We are going to be coming together to draft a document.

We're not coming together to def status, we're not coming togethe debate status.

Right now, I do agree that while we could feasibly be independent, economically right now, it doesn't make sense.

And we have to get to that point.

And this Constitution will allow us to align ourselves to that point.

The Constitution is the fundamental legal document of any sovereign state or sovereign territory, and without that, we are doing ourself a disservice.

So again, focusing on the task at hand status is very important, but it's not the most important thing that we will be working on during this, political convention.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

The next question.

Currently, for an initiative to pass in the Virgin Islands, it must receive 50% plus one of all the eligible voters.

This is the highest bar for an initiative to pass in the entire United States.

Should this change?

Why or why not?

You have 45 seconds each to respond to this question, and we're going to start with Mr. Rudel A. Hodge, Jr.

I believe this, this standard should stay the same.

I don't think it should be reduced.

I think it's, a very, fair standard.

And it allows us as Virgin Islanders to decide what a majority, especially the majority of voters.

We do have an issue in the Virgin Islands where a lot of people are not active voters.

That needs to be addressed.

I think political education and civics should be reintroduced into the educational system in the Virgin Islands.

But it is a standard.

I think that should stay.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

We're moving to the Mr. Stedman Hodge Jr. Yeah.

Thank you.

Balance of skill.

So at the end, you have 100%.

And if it's 50 on one side, 50 on the other is going to be even.

So the 50 plus one is adequate.

I think it should stay.

It should not change.

As it relates to the Constitutional Convention the people would have.

the people of that majority will have the opportunity to decide.

I think it's going to be incumbent upon the, the, all delegates to make sure that we are doing what we need to do with marketing, which has been a challenge, in, in, in, in fifth consecutive vention to get all the information to all, to the public in general.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

Mr. Watlington.

An initiative is what it means.

An initiative.

And thus I totally disagree that our, current standard is one that should be continued.

50 plus one of eligible voters in the Virgin Islands is a very, very tough, tough standard to to get to.

Sometimes we don't even get 50% of the eligible voters turning out.

Just look at the last few just last election for a couple of elected positions on the board of election of the Board of Education, you had less than 10% voter turnout.

So you can't go with the eligible voters.

You have to go with the voters who participated in that election when the initiative is put on the ballot.

Thank you, Mr. Watlington.

So, moving to the next question, we will have a discussion around the size of the legislature.

And its relationship to the population size of our community.

So let's talk about the size of the legislature, The size of the legislature has changed since the days of the municipal council.

There were proposals for nine, 11 and 15 members.

Population size has also changed.

Do you think the size of our legislature should be proportional to population size?

By looking at population numbers every ten years, using census data as background information, We have 15 senators for a population of over 100,000.

We still have 15 for a population of about 85,000, and a seemingly decreasing population as more people move away.

Should this be a discussion?

Why or why not?

You will each have 90 seconds to respond.

Please let me know if you would like for me to repeat the question.

And we will be starting with Mr. Watlington.

No, I'm not for reducing the size of the legislature.

I don't believe in, in in decreasing or decentralizing, the influence or of power.

The less individuals involved in decision making makes it a little more easy to be influenced.

So I don't see, reducing the size of the legislature.

I do see creating a system that makes the legislature more responsive to the constituency.

Right now, we are not we are not responsive.

We run to win one of seven seats in each district.

We have one At-Large Senator who is elected from St. John.

If that situation is challenged, it would be something that would be deemed unconstitutional under the Virgin, under the U.S. Constitution, not based on the one man, one vote concept.

So we need to deal with I really love the plank that came out of the fifth Constitutional Convention, staggered with some staggered, terms.

Additional at large senators and district senators, because then they would become a little bit more, responsive to the people who elect them.

Thank you, Mr. Watlington.

Mr. Rudel A Hodge, Jr.

So to answer the original question, no, I do not agree with reducing the size of our Senate.

I do think what Mr. Watlington explained is when you have less people making decisions, you have your easier.

They're way easier to be influenced by outside factors, right?

I do agree, though, that we do need to have some type of redistricting.

Because I do believe that senator should be kind of tied to a specific area of the Virgin Islands so they can have, you know, direct responsiveness to the constituents versus just an umbrella.

You know, I'm trying to run for one of these seven spots.

That will also create, again, a more connections between the elected official and the constituents.

And it also allows you to go to the person and really can address your core issues and your concerns.

It would be amazing to have a center that's directly responsible for downtown Charlot Amalie, for somebody, for the countryside, somebody for Bordeaux.

or versus just this, you know, umbrella of these seven people trying to fix everything versus specifically I'm responsible for these specific areas.

But I'm also going to make sure I'm going to be working on other things while I'm doing this specific role.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge and Mr. Stedman Hodge Jr.

Thank you.

I'm actually in support of reduction of the legislature.

I'm also in support of, district, you know, having more districts because it would definitely bring greater accountability from within those districts.

And or the constituents that are within the districts.

Yes.

The fifth Constitutional Convention had, a great process.

As a matter of fact, I can go back to, last year or two years ago.

There was a petition, there was a petition to change the structure of the legislature by increasing, by adding more additional, At-Large seats, but it would not have worked because we had we still have a unicameral government or a unicameral legislature.

But during the talks and the discussions, it is it is going to happen is is going to take place.

but is how we move forward to try to get it done.

But I am in support of district in and reducing the size of the legislature.

Cause per capita is too many.

Even if you are not to say that we are comparing to other districts, but per capita a hundred thousand people.

If I have a concern, is going to be that we need a big pay close attention to gentrification.

If we if we had to go with district in and how that graphic is going to look like.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

Mr. Watlington or Mr. Rudel A. Hodge, Jr. would you like to, respond based on the information that Mr. Stedman Hodge suggested?

And I yeah, I, I again, I don't see I don't see the I can't agree with ever reducing the the influence of 15 to 9.

When we centralize power, it creates more confusion.

Decentralization of power gives more accountability and more power to the people.

You have a more representative group.

Nine.

Will, nine people representing, creating or utilizing that power does not, in fact, help.

I shouldn't say it doesn't help it.

I believe, again, centralizing power is it's to me is a bad political process, just like having a, a dictator.

I, when you say ultimate power corrupts well, absolute power corrupts.

And, you know, the less people making decisions, to me, is problematic.

Mr. Rudel A. Hodge, Jr, please bear in mind that you have 60 seconds, If you would like to respond.

So I would like to respond.

I agree.

I do think reduction is not in the best interests in the Virgin Islands.

Again, because you will be able to influence things.

What the influence to a smaller group of people would have, such as the number nine.

I don't know what number.

Mr. Hodge would suggest the number of senators for the entirety of the territory.

But, reduction in that number would, you know, give credence to corruption and give credence to, increase, you know, influence by certain groups.

And that would be problematic for the first house, which is currently experiencing its the beginning stages of gentrification.

And that's something that needs to be addressed.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

Mr. Stedman Hodge, Jr, if you would like to respond, you are allowed 45 seconds to do so.

Okay.

Thank you.

I do at least.

What I'm enjoying about this forum is that we're engaging in fruitful dialog and that is what you want to have as we move forward.

As members of the six Constitute Convention.

My, I'm looking at.

Well, I can only recommend or suggest that we can have 11 delegates.

And that would include.

Well, 11 and three of those would have been at large.

One from St. John, one from St. Thomas, and also one from St. Croix, which gives additional equity.

But, it's a everything comes down to a vote, you know, at the appropriate time.

So I'd be looking forward to engaging in that dialog.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

I know that we had, some brief communication on St. John.

So here's a question that allows us to further discuss.

So let's look at St. John.

Even though there is an at large senator from St. John, some citizens there still feel underrepresented in the legislature.

What ideas could you bring to a discussion on this during the this convention?

You have 60 seconds each to respond, and we're going to start with Mr. Stedman Hodge, Jr. All right.

As it relates to St. John.

I think if we want to take a real deep dive, then we can look at the Department of Interior.

Okay.

And that's where, we can look at for those families who are having issue with property rights on St. John, where the where even the, the property taxes that they're paying is higher because let's say someone built a hotel within that general area, etc..

So these are things that can be addressed and can be discussed.

Through the delegation.

Additionally, when we look at their when we have a natural disaster like a hurricane, it takes St. John longer to be to for recovery.

So what can we look at?

So that they can have their, uh Remember the word, their own substation?

Okay, so these are some of the really hard discussions that that needs to take place.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr. Hodge.

We're going to turn to Mr. Watlington.

I, I don't believe St. John that this is a is a different, Political district, and I don't believe that, St. John should have a specific representative as such.

St. Thomas, St. John is a legal, political district.

We are separated by 12 miles of water.

That's not very far.

And it just needs means that the people of St. John needs to become more politically involved in the St. Thomas St. John district, rather than limiting themselves to St. John, such as running in the St. Thomas/St.

John district there's nothing prevents a St. Johnian and there are not many born St. Johnians.

I mean, many people live on St. John.

May have been born elsewhere, St Thomas, Tortola, elsewhere, and it's.

Thank you.

Mr. Watlington.

And so we're going to turn to Mr. Rudel A. Hodge, Jr.

So again, I think, thank you for the question.

I think the issue with St. John again is the size again, it's the political apathy and the political experience of the people in St. John allowing them to thus become more political, aware, as Mr. Watlington stated, you know, there's always a possibility for St. Johnians to run on the St. Thomas, St. John, senatorial race, not just for the senator at large, for St. John.

I also do believe that in this constitutional draft, if some of the ideas that I speak about on this platform right now about re re district re districting, the different jurisdictions and allowing more, voting, a lot more input for voters in those districts directly to us.

Senator also allows St. Johnian issues and problems to be addressed in a much more comprehensive way, becoming.

Sure.

Mr. Watlington.

In a follow up to that.

This, this,Sixth Constitutional Convention race is a is a classic example of what I'm talking about.

The fourth person who is quote unquote already.

If, if you can say automatically a delegate is a resident of St. John, he didn't run as an at large Senate, for from the island of St. John.

He participated as a resident of St. John in the St. Thomas, St. John district.

So there's nothing wrong with it, and we need to practice it.

Thank you for your thoughts.

So the next question is, pertaining to the importance of public engagement.

As we know, public trust is critical to effectiveness and efficiency in government.

So what strategies could you promote to keep the public engaged or informed of the work of the convention?

We're going to start with Mr. Watlington, and you have 45 seconds to respond.

Engage younger people.

Engage younger people.

Engage organizations of younger people.

Engage AARP, engage in the Rotaries.

Engage a league of women voters.

Engage all the entities in that that that that has a membership that has a voice that can spread the word.

But my focus and the main focus should be engagement of the younger generation who is coming.

My time, most of my time has already been spent, and it's time for younger ones to be participatory, to make sure that their children are taken care of.

Thank you, Mr. Watlington.

Mr. Rudel A. Hodge, Jr.

So for this convention to, you know, capture the public interest, we need to have schedule updates.

So updating the community about the status of what's going on in the convention, I think it just needs to be schedule.

If it's, you know, twice a month, once a month, during the duration of the convention, that will be very powerful and allow the constituents of the territory to understand what's going on and allow people that might, you know, support or have issues, certain things, to be able to voice their concerns at an appropriate time in the process.

Two I think social media campaign is very powerful in this day and age, right.

Making sure that we post on the internet and allow people to see it and allow it to be, you know, live on forever on a social media platform is very important.

And last but not least, TV and radio, making sure that we are publicizing the information on TV and radio.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

Mr. Stedman Hodge Jr. Yeah.

Thank you.

I think it's really important that, my fact I'm in good this direction.

We have a budget right now of 300,000.

It is not sufficient for the Constitutional Convention.

By having that plan, marketing plan, having those things in place and already in place, even prior to that's forward thinking, then requesting an additional appropriation so we can do the proper marketing.

We we've never been able to get the message out properly.

I'll keep on beating and emphasizing that.

Then of course, using all as alluding to my colleagues here, getting the word out, getting that message out, okay, especially to the young folks and the next generation, because we have to pass on that torch and pass on that mantle.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

So as our final question, I would like to invite each of you to address any other topic of concern that you may have an interest in, along with your strategy for addressing this topic.

So we're going to start with Mr. Rudel A. Hodge, Jr.

So again, one of the biggest things that I want to address in this constitutional convention is making sure that we are focusing and advocating for future generations.

I'm trying my best to put myself at a position at the table to advocate for the millennials, Gen Z r's and the future generations and make sure that the first knowledge that exists today still exists in the future, and still it's beneficial for us.

We have a lot of brain drain territory and this Constitution has a could have the ability to kind of start that foundation of creating the new Virgin Islands that's able for us to live, survive, flourish, prosper, and create a better place for us to live.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

Let's move to Mr. Stedman Hodge Jr. Hi.

Thank you.

For me, it's, And previous conventions have created their own document from bottom up, I think more so.

And I think even for me, as a former delegate and with my experience, are that we use and recommendation is to use an existing document and we use an existing document, we actually shorten our timeline and we get that out to the public and hold the townhalls and the forums, so that we can ensure that we get this Constitution and the people and the people of the US territory are going to support it.

That's all I have to share.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

Mr. Watlington.

Increasing the, increasing the the concept of democracy and how you can create the concept of democracy is by creating additional or important elected offices.

Mr. Rudel Hodge, Attorney Rudel Hodge indicated electing your attorney general, electing a clerk of the court.

Electing judges if necessary, giving the people more say in their government.

I believe one of the main things that we need to do is identify what the board, what the election system is.

Is it the independent branch of the government?

Is it what is it?

You have to create an election system that makes it accountable to the people and to expand the concept of democracy power by the people, for the people.

Thank you for your thoughts.

Now we are moving into our closing.

Each candidate will have 60 seconds to share your closing statements, and please be sure to include why your presence would be significant.

To be part of this moment in terms of speaking to voters, making the wise choice of allowing and affording you the opportunity to be part of this convention.

You each would be granted 60 seconds to do so.

We're going to start with Mr. Rudel A. Hodge, Jr. Good day again.

My name is Rudel A. Hodge, Jr. As a dedicated lawyer, small business owner and advocate for repressed government, I Rudel Hodge, Jr. am committed to leading the charge in creating a comprehensive and inclusive constitution for the U.S. Virgin Islands.

My campaign for delegate for the Six Continents Convention is driven by the principle of transparency, integrity, and proactive leadership, ensuring that the voice of our community is shaped.

Community shapes the foundation of our governance.

Right.

So again, vote Rudel A. Hodge, Jr ballot number six for the sixth Constitutional Convention of the US Virgin Islands.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

Mr. Stedman Hodge Jr.

Yes.

On November 5th I'm asking for your vote to be a delegate for the sixth Constitutional Convention.

I'm passionate about the process.

I've lived it, I've been in it and still in it.

I am your public servant.

Not only as a member of the National Guard, but through various organization that I am affiliated with, whether it was Nami, Omega Si Fi Fraternity, and others.

There's a lot of work to do.

Not everyone is willing to stand up and represent the people.

But here it is.

We in true need of a constitution here in the US Virgin Islands.

And I'm asking for your vote on November 6th to make a difference.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hodge.

Mr. Watlington, I well, I think most people, who may be viewing this, this program knows who I am and what I stand for.

One of my main concerns is making sure that we get some additional interested individuals on this constitutional convention from the St. Thomas St. John district educated young, interested persons who understand the concept of democracy, who understand the power of the people, who understand the power of the vote, who understands that it is important to have an instrument that determines your political stability.

And that is what our constitution does.

So I'm not here to say vote Arturo Watlington number four on your ballot.

I'm saying that we need to be involved in the process so that people can in fact, be, satisfied with what we have.

Thank you candidates for sharing with us today a very insightful and fruitful discussion.

So we want to thank you, candidates and viewers, and thank you, WTJX, TV and staff, for today's program.

The League of Women Voters hopes this program has helped with you, the voter, in understanding of the candidates and in so doing, inform your vote in November.

The league reminds you that your vote determines the future of the Virgin Islands.

Every vote does count.

During elections, we often see an individual who barely makes the cut because a few more people did vote a one who barely loses and wishes if only a few more persons had voted.

So let your voice be heard by your vote.

It's your right.

Take it.

Thank you for watching.

I am Doctor Andrea Dorsey for the League of Women Voters of the Virgin Islands saying vote early or vote in November.

Just vote.