Roach rejects write-in push, but backer vows to continue

Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach has made clear he will not participate in efforts to revive his gubernatorial ticket through a write-in campaign following his defeat in the Democratic primary on August 1, yet the St. Thomas organizer behind the push says she intends to keep going.

In a message shared among supporters, Roach stated that he and running mate Senator Novelle Francis Jr. oppose the write-in initiative. He also requested that campaign materials and logos from the primary race not be repurposed for such an effort.

"While Novelle and I respect the right of each person to support the candidate of their choice, we do not support a Write-In Campaign on our behalf," Roach wrote.

Yard signs and vehicle decals displaying "Write In" have begun appearing across the territory, including on St. John. Sylvia Thomas, a retired Deputy Chief of Police living on St. Thomas, is coordinating the grassroots effort and told The Daily News in an exclusive interview that she is working independently of the candidates.

Thomas said the initiative began after residents approached her seeking guidance on how to cast ballots for Roach and Francis after the primary outcome. Some voters had skipped the August election due to lack of awareness about the voting process, while others did not understand that a primary loss meant the ticket would not proceed to the general election automatically. A portion were independent voters planning to participate only in November.

Thomas made three visits to the Elections System of the Virgin Islands office to understand the mechanics of write-in voting and submitted written inquiries afterward. She learned that voters could record the names in multiple formats: "Roach - Francis", "Roach/Francis", "Roach and Francis", or by using their full names, all in compliance with election law.

Thomas funded the signs herself and created informational cards detailing how to execute write-in votes. She plans to display signs on private land and place the message on her own vehicle. Efforts to recruit sign-holders on St. Croix have been unsuccessful, as some residents worry that visible political activity could threaten their government employment or business interests.

While Thomas acknowledges Roach's position regarding primary campaign materials, she said this will not prevent her from educating voters about their options.

"It doesn't discourage me in letting the public know that, yes, you can write in Roach-Francis," she said.

The general election takes place November 3. Candidates pursuing write-in status for territorial offices must submit a declaration of intent by October 19, which is at least 15 days before election day. Write-in votes count only when the name matches a declared write-in candidate.

The ballot already features six other tickets: Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett and Senate President Milton Potter, who won the Democratic primary; Gustav James and Randolph Bennett; Warren Mosler and Colin Robertson; Adlah Donastorg and Positive Nelson; and Oakland Benta and Merwin Potter.

Territorial law requires the governor and lieutenant governor to be elected as a joint ticket and to secure a majority of votes cast to win outright. If no ticket achieves that majority, the top two finishers will advance to a runoff scheduled for November 17.

Early voting opens Friday and continues through October 31.