Thursday, September 10, 2026 - Part 1

0:00The views and opinions expressed on analyze this are entirely those of the on air participants and do not reflect those of the stations board management staff or underwriters. And good Thursday morning and welcome to another edition of analyze this here on your MP or station in the US version on WTJ except ninety three point one for yours truly. Uh, never seems as direct to it. We got a candidate from here on the candidate speak. Uh, Shamari Haynes. Uh, he is a board of elections candidate. Good morning, sir. How are you? Good morning. I'm pretty good. I yield to you introduce yourself. Good morning, everyone. My name is Shamari Haynes. Uh, I am your democratic candidate for the board of elections in the 2026 general election.

1:01I currently serve as the deputy commissioner with the US V.I. Department of Tourism. I am the owner and founder of the simply sophisticated one true. Um, I've been in the kind of all and cultural industry for the past 19 years. I've also served in the tourism space for 19 years. I am also the president slash former vice president of the governor's millennial console. So I'm no stranger to this community. Um, I am very much rooted in public service. Uh, I am a solution driven individual and I'm afraid that way. Why now why 2026? Uh, for a very long time, I've been in a space where I've been just talking politics. So if you know me, I talk tourism, I talk festival and I talk politics. Um, and I'm realizing that we are, all right. We're currently as a territory at a very, um, a very rough place where we are politically here in this territory and the decisions that we make now, um, really, I truly would be the make a break up what's next for us. Um, not only as a district, but as as a virgin, I was territory, right. Um, so as we talk about continuity and we talk about young people in the space.

2:09Um, I decided to try my hat in a ring. Um, my campaigns stand firmly on several pillars, generational representation, civic engagement and brutal education, as well as transparency, accountability and fairness in the electoral process. Why, why the election system. So funny, you know, people have been encouraging me to run for Senate. I have no interest in running for the Senate. I have no interest in solving in the legislature. Um, but the border elections because, you know, I already ensure that, you know, my, my peers are participated in the process. I have the conversation all the time. Um, it doesn't matter within what circle, but there is opportunity right now for me to join the board. So I decided maybe a stand for me to step up. What have you done in preparation to, to be a board member, learning, um, what the electoral process is about and maybe, um, potential reform going forward. So I've been researching title 18, um, best as I can. Um, I've also been engaging with, um, with several members of the board. Um, you know, again, some insights, uh, paying attention to what's happening, doing some research, you know, the board of elections has been spending much time in the, um, in the local headlines.

3:25So I've just been doing some research and having conversations reading the room or less. Well, um, every election we hear of, um, certain controversies we hear people complaining about the process. What do you bring to the table? Um, that would actually be a asset to the board of elections. So I bring, um, perspective from a younger generation, but also, um, in the roles that I currently serve and have served in before, um, I'm no stranger to organization or structure. I'm no stranger to marketing, um, when it comes to anything that I do, um, between the department of tourism, as well as my festival, I'm marketing there. I think that the board of elections can do a better job at connecting with the local community, um, having more of a social media presence. Um, so those are all things that I do. And I just think that I have the opportunity and the ability to, um, to introduce some other. Talk a little bit. You mentioned general, Michelle representation. Talk a little bit about that. So currently, um, serving on the board of elections. There is no one under the age of 40 as far as I'm aware, nobody under the age of 35 for sure. Um, currently I'm 34 years old. Um, and I want to see some more representation on the board, um, within those spaces, within those boards, uh, within a legislature.

4:42Um, we really as a community, we spend so much time, my generation, millennials, Gen Z, uh, we spend all the time having these conversations, but it's time for us to really support the replay. The, the, the way the board is structured, I believe, um, it's a staggered, um, representation. They run every four years. Correct. Three on three on from the same credit district, one term, one election cycle, then four to next cycle and vice versa. Uh, same time as in Gen, you, you find it to be a palatable, you find it to be a good structure. Yeah, I think the structure is, it's fair. Um, again, continuity, you don't want to necessarily move everybody out at the same time, um, to ensure that you're able to, um, move the, the projects of the board forward. It is important for individuals to, um, have started turns. What, what are you telling the vote as old as who are hearing you for the first time on the campaign trail, um, and know you, uh, from the different spaces that you talk about?

5:43So I, um, I'm asking folks to give me the opportunity, um, to solve on the board. Again, I'm, I'm no stranger. I think a lot of folks think that I, I just show up in the cultural space. Um, I don't think that people are aware, uh, that I've been in the political space more or less, um, long enough. Um, I don't know everything. Uh, I am willing to learn, like I mentioned before I am a hard worker. So, um, I'm easy to teach, right? And I think that's important. But I'm very much interested in ensuring that there is representation. Um, and if we're serious about moving towards the last forward, um, then, uh, I like the opportunity to pull up a seat to the table. I don't know what I can. Um, I'm ensure that, um, you know, we, whole the board of elections in a place where we, it's protected, but it's also, um, also, um, full of, of, of members who can be engaged and have a conversation through my influence. Um, I'm, like I mentioned, I'm able to get a bunch of, I, I know for a short fact that I've been very, uh, successful in getting young people ready to vote and voting in the primary election in this election cycle. There's no, um, no ifans or buts. Um, and I want to be able to gain what I can and share the information, make the information more, uh, palatable, uh, make the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the election, um, I think I'm curious. Um, is there any way to get the information? Um, I'm, I think I'm gonna have to get the information in the political space. Um, I'm, I'm not gonna be able to get the information in the political space. Um, I'm not gonna be able to get the information in the political space. Um, I'm

7:01happy. Things of the board, um, in, in a space where like the language is more played language, right? So, you know, it's not that we're not interested in what's happening politically. It's just that sometimes politics could seem quite intimidating. Uh, so using my influence, um, I would like the opportunity to, to take that information and I'm sharing with those who may have interest. What are you hearing? I'm, I'm a campaign trail. Um, you're presenting yourself as I candid it. Um, is, is voter apathy real out there? Are people turning off by the electoral process? What are you hearing? Yeah, people are definitely turned off by the electoral process. Uh, but on my own campaign trail, um, people are also hopeful. Uh, what we sent them to the plate. So I've received a lot of support from, um, millennials as well as, you know, seasoned voters, uh, baby boomas. There's a lot of support. Uh, but a lot of people are also willing to give me the chance because again, I'm not stranger to the space. No, you're running as a Democrat. Um, what, what's the sense about the Democratic brand?

8:01Um, going into the 2026 general election. Um, I'm a firm believer in the Democratic party. I'm a firm believer in the democratic process. I know, uh, currently, um, in the political space. Um, people seem to be anti-democrat, uh, but I think it's important for the Democratic party to have representation on the board. Currently, uh, there is one. Well, we have two, uh, board members in the single district that are Democrat. Uh, one individual is, uh, seek and raise election as an independent, which would leave one, uh, the other individual serving on the board as a Democrat. So I want to make sure that there's representation from the party there as well. Talk about the brand, the, the, the Democratic brand. Um, we look at it numerically. Um, I spoke with the, uh, civil vice ever elections, um, Tuesday, two thirds of the registered voters in the territory. Uh, active registered voters are, uh, our, our Democrat. Uh, do you get the sense that there are those out there who, um, um, want some type of opposition to this numerically dominant machine that is a Democratic party? Yeah, there is some opposition for sure. But I think opposition is good, right? Um, and I do believe that it is my personal opinion that you need to

9:17have that opposition to move things forward. Different perspectives. All of us can't play music from the same, we can't play music from the same shit on music, right? So it's, it's good to have various, uh, opinions, it's good to have opposition. That's how we grow. Uh, those perspectives are important and a matter. You would say you believe competition is healthy. Yeah, man, for sure. For sure, for sure. Playing mass, you know that? I know that playing mass. So, um, comfort, uh, is the enemy of growth, um, and competition is the kind of stone, um, of growth. So I do believe that it is important. I don't, I don't want to be, uh, a part of a community or a part of a society where everybody just sing in the same thing. Everybody saying yes. Um, I, I like the various perspectives. Sometimes various perspectives could lead to, um, to some tension. I think that, you know, we need to have individuals who are mature and, um, you know, professional enough to have those conversations, um, absent of whatever people may feel or whatever tensions may raise.

10:21No, you, you like doing the math in my head. You said you, that at tourism for 19 years. Yes, right. So the tourism department. Yes. And you're 34. Yep. So you were working illegally at the age of 15. No, I was a contractor employee with a grisous program at the time. That's from the age of 15 years old. Correct. Now, I'm just doing a Mac, because you said, you said nobody young enough 40 or 35. So I was like, wait a minute. I thought you were 35 already. You're 34. Just on 34 in, um, in July. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Thank you. So, so you've been talking about, talk about, well, where were you at 15 years old? So I was at the educational complex. Um, I was a student, uh, in 10 to 11 grade, um, the opportunity presented itself for me to take on a part time gig. I applied for the grisous program at the department of tourism. Um, and that's kind of just how my interest within the, the tourism space sparked. I served as a grita. I was promoted to lead griter. And then I was appointed as the special marketing assistant. I served as the first assistant director for the division of festivals for the district of St. Croix. And I currently served as a deputy commissioner. So, uh, my professional career has been within the department of tourism. I just don't work with the Fredi said, how care for about three years.

11:47Um, while at the time, most of the tourism as a part time employee. Grita, so you are the airport at the airport and the crew's port, handing out maps, telling people, hey, the best feature in Fredi said, if you're looking for a rainbow beaches, I might to the north, San Castle is I might to the south. If you have any questions, ask me, and I still do that up until this day. So the, the communication aspect of being a elected official that shouldn't be a problem with you that won't be a problem with you. Not about currently as a deputy commissioner, I oversee the local, the local communications team. Um, and that entire team is, is come a compressive of young people. Um, so I get no stranger to communications. I'm no stranger to marketing. I'm no stranger to, to, you know, organization within spaces. I'm no stranger to various personalities. Um, within my festival troop, I've managed upward of 1200 individuals, one by one. I've handled a number of problems. I've problem solved.

12:49Um, I'm very much solution based. So between my work at tourism, as well as what I've done for my festival troop as well, because that has been wrong for 19 years as well. Um, because the same time I started tourism is the same time I started my festival troop. Uh, so I'm used to, I'm used to problem solving and I'm used to various opinions on point of view. Now let's, let's get to the actual role of being a board of election member. Um, you, you'll be a, uh, if elected, um, you'll be a part of a 14 member board that will be the Virgin Islands board of elections. All right. And, um, we were representing, um, for the district, I think we're half of the makeup. Um, you mentioned there are two Democrats who should be up for reelection this year. But you said one is running as an independent. Correct. One is a, from, there's two Democrats from a two Democrats. One is up for reelection and that individual is running as an independent.

13:51And, and the other one is retiring. No, the other one will still serve. He is in the second half of his first round. Okay. You started my way. I'm just up with number right now. Uh, chicken, boy, cheer. Yes. You have a boy cheer. Correct. Okay. Okay. Okay. So, so, um, there's a limit as to how many members from a particular party could be on the board of elections. Correct. Okay. And you're running as a Democrat. Yes. Okay. Now, um, the, the actual functions of the board, your job, uh, is to set policy, um, make recommendations to the legislature, uh, where they could look at potential reform. Um, basically you give the authority, the mandate to the election supervisor for her to carry out, uh, with, with the team. So are you saying having worked in government public service, department of tourism, you, you're comfortable with the structure and you look forward to exercise in the authority. I am absolutely. Collectively. Absolutely. So, so how do we, how do we know that after you're elected that you're going to be a team player, but at the same time,

14:57make sure that the laws of the land have to be followed. Uh, just through telling the story, sharing a perspective, um, you know, as a millennial, it allows me the opportunity to, um, at the end of life of a, of a board member as an example. I didn't have a board member with the board of elections. Right. What does that look like? Um, and, and how can I share that story? And it's not, it wouldn't be a meeting or it's not about me, but again, I think that the board of elections could do a much better job at sharing those stories, sharing a perspective, coming done to where the individuals are who the vote, right. Um, have more of a social media presence, have more of a presence within the community. Um, so everything don't necessarily seem like a controversy. Right. Because of the board is doing good work. Um, it's just unfortunately in this, in this space, um, there's just so much content and I'm back on for it. How do we know that that that once elected, um, should you be elected that you won't file victim to just wanting to be seen and heard, um, as opposed to being a role player, a member of the board of elections.

16:10Um, and looking at facilitating the process of number one for the voters, understanding their inalienable right to vote number one and number two, encouraging them to actually participate in the process. I take my track record currently proves that it I've worked with, um, I've worked on teams before. Um, it is never about me. Um, it has never been about me. It won't be about me. It's always about the mission. Um, and I'll just share that. Right. I'll have those conversations shared a perspective once again because it's, it's, it can be about me. It's just, and I'm not. Sometimes people tell me I'm actually two, um, two humble, two maris. Um, I'm not somebody who necessarily, um, like, like the limelight, um, contrary to, you know, whatever. I'm not a lot of people opinion maybe, um, I prefer to sit in the back seat, but you know, I've also learned that sometimes you can run from your colleague. So sometimes I'm forced to show up, um, and sometimes I'm forced to stand in front, um, but that's not that's not who I am.

17:15So you're saying that, that when you play in my, that's a difference to, you know, I got to bring it down the road. But you see, even with standing at, even with standing at the front of the troop, my position in Parry Day is also from a logistical standpoint. So I control the flooded trucks, I control what happens, um, under road, right? But I also have a team who knows what their responsibilities are. You know, that's how it's going to go. That's what's going to you. So you're actually saying that, um, you have, you have disability, the compartment, who you are. Uh, so, so the shamari hands that we see, I'm King Street, the first Saturday in January every year. Um, that'll be a completely different person from the person who was sitting at the board and processing information as a realistic election system. Correct. The parade is, is, um, that's where the show that's, that's my hashtag, right? Um, that's, that's where, that's where I dominate, um, humbly.

18:16Um, I started my festival troop. Let me, let me, let me take a break and I hate, I can see you getting comfortable here. We, we got some mario hands. What's the number, sir? Number five. Number five. But in the ballot, you cannot see to be a member of the virtually, whatever elections are presented. This trick is incorrect. Uh, we'll take a break and be back right after this. Healthcare costs are continuing to rise. Bank of St. Croix offers health savings accounts for individuals enrolled in qualifying high deductible health plans. HSAs provide a way to set aside pre-tax funds for qualified medical expenses, such as doctor visits, prescriptions, and other eligible healthcare costs.

19:23Contributions may be made by account holders, employers, or others on behalf of the account holder. Accounts may be opened with a minimum deposit of $25, earn interest over time, and our FDIC insured. Bank of St. Croix offers health savings accounts through its local banking centers and online. More information is available at bankofsankcroix.com. Bank of St. Croix. Remember FDIC. You served behind the desk. You served in combat. You did four years and got out. You were drafted. You gave 20 years. You gave exactly what your country needed. You are a veteran. You are a veteran. You are a veteran. And you deserve support. If you're struggling with life after service, don't wait. Reach out. Find resources at vaid.gov slash reach.

20:24Brought to you by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the Ad Council. This season on My Money Mentors. My name is Chris Caranthian. I'm Jacqueline Shaddick. Ready for action. We are a professional powerhouse. So I handle the numbers. And I try to see what is their relationship with money. So we melt the two together to give you the most financial empowerment. Tunis Saturdays at 8 p.m. on WTJX TV, Channel 12. And we're back here. And ladies this the candidate speak is in effect. And we got candidate for the board of elections represented district as an inquiry.

21:29And we said, Tamara, here's number five. You said about it. Yes, correct. Good morning once again. Glad to have you here. So you were just starting to get comfortable talking about how you're viewed. People know you from the cultural arena, cultural space. That's it. That's what we use. No space. Right. But now you've decided you want to take on an additional responsibility as relates to the election system. Talk about that. So I will mention before we want to break that the parade is is way to dominate. I started my brand at the age of 16. And it started with 26 people. Right. So I've built something I've dominated the space. I've contributed a whole lot to the adults parade and just in Cretch region Christmas festival. And I walk very proudly and very comfortable within that space. But there's so much more to me than than the parade within the tourism space. I've been in the department for quite some time. I know the inside outside the department. I absolutely love what I do at tourism.

22:35So if you're experimenting about tourism, if you ask me anything about destination marketing, anything about syncrisis, damasas and Jan, I spit that out because I absolutely love that. But what people don't know is I love politics just as much. And I know a lot of political history. And I like the engagement of just being in the political space. But I don't want to show up in the political space and people think, well, here comes the young man from the parade where he know about politics and where he want to solve and the board of elections. And there's just so much more to me. I could contribute in so many more ways. And I'm asking folks for the opportunity to serve. But in asking folks for the opportunity to serve, I'm also asking folks for for their patience and their ability to look at what I have done as serving as the first assistant director for the division of festival for St. Croix.

23:35I worked along the division of festivals and I built that division of festivals brand for the district of St. Croix. Right. So, and if you're on the ground and you have seen me in action, if garbage needs to clean, I can clean the garbage. If tables need to move, I can move to tables again, no stranger to hard work, but also no stranger for no stranger to controversy. Right. So we've had the the conversation as a community about the shortening of the crucial Christmas festival dates. We've had the conversation as a community of crangling and missing Croix. So I've also been in those spaces where where I've had to answer the tough questions and have the tough conversations as well. So I am looking forward to serving on the board. I am looking forward to contributing to the work of the board and I'm looking forward to once elected, I'm looking forward to sharing the story, sharing the insight and getting more young people involved. Are you a proponent of early voting?

24:36I sure am. So the most recent primary election we had, high 60% close to 70% of the people who actually participated in the process voted, we are early voting. Now there are those who who like the old fashioned retail election process of I want my vote content and election day. Talk a little bit about why you believe early voting is beneficial, why you like it, things that I did. So early voting is beneficial because it allows individuals who don't want to get up to don't want to get caught up in the election day hype. The opportunity to vote right you don't you walk in the process is very fast. It's a lot more convenient to go vote and your lunch break you go vote before you go into a walk you go vote after walk. It's it's a very stress free environment you don't have individuals in front of you ask you need to vote for XYZ or so election day also brings energy there's an energy election leader bring some people like it right so usually I early vote I early voted in the in this past primary but I plan on voting election day in the general election because I want I want to feel energy.

25:51Interesting. Yes. I see here we had over 7000 say the territories bracket sitting early voting turnout was 7,113 ballots were cast during a 10 day early voting period territory white so we got we had on average 700 people vote in per day. That's that that's a success for it I would think yeah the definitely successful I think that I think that was in the land is also we're very intentional intentional in in making sure that your voice voices were heard. We want change we want change and. A lot of individuals are a lot of voters are trying to elect individuals who. Don't want to be a part of the status quo I think that was in the lens in canvass and I'm being on the ground and having those conversations people are tired of the status quo. And people are tired of hearing the same thing over and over and I think that's one of the reasons why individuals are excited about me stepping up to the plate because you get to see a new face in that in in the political arena in the political political space but it's also someone that people trust.

27:07There wasn't a primary for the race that you're seeking no that's because. You have to have more candidates than available seats in order to have a permit. Yeah I was the only correct I was the only Democrat seeking a seat on the board of elections in the primary so I automatically advanced over to the general. How many how many opponents do you have in a different election? I think that's one of five of us running in a general election for three for three seats for three seats. Okay that's interesting that's also a sad cabin territory though for a party that's so numerically dominant that on the St. Gray side only one candidate step up I think there was a primary in St. Thomas. Yes that's a primary. I was mentioning that much but it wasn't one of St. Croy. Have you had conversations with the party leadership? First of all thank you for asking you to step up but also looking at the big picture where how can the party be this big but not want people to step up for important positions like the board of elections.

28:12So we started to engage in conversation last week Saturday there is a part two of that meeting this comment Saturday. We're sworn into the territorial committee but it is my intentions before the general election to sit down with on with our work because I don't necessarily you know the conversation is all you can get in the party on back you know of the necessarily doing the work. But that's not I don't go sign to that top process I believe that doing the walk is is most certainly a major part of it but I also want to get her insight get the party insight in regards to. Where is the party moving forward within these these four years and the next election as well as you know the top process with me serving on the board. You mentioned the state chair. Carabot and of course and. I share you know same high school same college and all that stuff but what about the district who is the district. Do we have a district chair? District chair.

29:12I don't want to miss speak. I'm still figuring out the make up I know she's going to go Robinson was just appointed as the interim ED so there's some changes that's happening on the Democratic party side. And I know that Carol Burke is currently working to get more young people live off in the process so I'll have a full idea of what's going to be happening when we are serving the last set of members on Saturday. I know that you know she is a powerful player in a party leading the party but you are from the St. Croix district and you got two different districts and you would want I guess the public the party the brand. Should want to know that from a district standpoint there is a good structure and good leadership from the district standpoint because we are even over our one Virgin Islands they're different. What's the right word I use here dynamics of police from one district to the next correct.

30:13Okay that's I just wanted to find out and I was that was that was quite evident in the first meeting that we had you know this was a tour meeting yes correct. Yeah so it was quite obvious that the dynamic is quite different but the goals are remained the same interesting. So you're going to be well I spoke with the with the elections about what is that I think there's going to be five polling places or five polling centers as a term they use now we used precincts back in the day but we don't use that to rise anymore I think it's canagata Montessori which was in the distance. Correct Central High School correct. I'm not allowed to mark on the same as for the same Joseph right say Joseph and the St. Croix St. Croix say now there was a time when we were good for 10 polling sites.

31:16That's when I use a big jump in on site by saying back in the day now things have been consolidated we've had a census issue where population in to that that has impacted census where but they be 10 15,000 people less in both districts respectively. As a election system member you got to be studying that data as well right to see what's going on compared to how we used to be 10 15 years ago correct talk about that aspect of being a election system member so one of the benefits in having polling sites polling stations is you don't necessarily have an excuse us to why you're careful you could literally if if forever whatever reason an election day you're running some erasicals up in on vote it allows for more. Convenient process for the vote right but it's important to also pay attention to the data because you know you would know within which areas you need to have have a polling station you would know where you need to do more work you would also know as the candidate where you're going to get the votes from you know what I need to focus on is 10 or you know predict that have a heavy bottom of voting block and you know mommy do the vote right so the data is important because they are not going to be a lot of people.

32:33So the data is important because the data is going to let you know as a candidate where you have to work but also as a election system official where you need to put in more work so the data is telling. Now you are aware of the fact right that you may be running as a Democrat but should you be elected you're representing everybody yes correct right so so I just want to make that clear because there are those who believe that they have this inherent bias but once you're elected the the the brand is about a political affiliation but when it comes to representation representing everybody correct okay good so what what what are you telling young people. You are young in yourself I tell them to get up and go food and don't talk to me don't engage in me if you're not registered right so I use this as a prime example we have an event that's coming up on Sunday I'm going to I'm going to be spending the day with some friends I accept me as a you guys register to vote they were like yeah I so you know I let them know you know I go check like I go check in real time I know I like yeah I registered to vote there's two individuals who are registered to vote I was like well before you guys.

33:44So these are the boys and Sunday you need to get rid of the vote I am actively having a conversation sharing with young people that if you don't do politics politics going to you but I'm also breaking it down in plain language you have to know how a vote one vote two vote three votes could affect your day today while politics may again may seem intimidating and it may seem intense and it may seem like you know there's always some back and forth and then there's the talk of corruption and the talk of government doing this or doing that I show them I show them the educate them and the process and I show them where and how their voice matter I also use a beat a really this last election hope you are really last the election by six votes right and how we hear that every vote matter every vote count but all Peter needed was six or seven votes to get in I'd run into more than six or seven people every single day right I have over 2000 contacts on my phone but we I I and through my friends Mojang and Chris as well we they run for the border education

34:59I'm in the primary election we run under the social movement of forward VI we get people our age range is our that that's that's who we focus on that's that's the demographic that we focus on we ensure that the reddit sort of vote we ensure that the vote election day but we also ensure that I know why they are voting you we don't want to just go vote because our name and the ballot right you have to understand that you have to be research I'm not expecting for you to know every single thing but I'm expecting for you to know the beer minimum so thankfully so far that has been very successful we've been very successful in that mission and I we take credit to the the election data reflecting a younger demographic being ready to vote and going out to vote we know that we are a part of that and again like win lose in this election in this general election you know I'm not going to run our world to my back because engaging and getting young people to be a part of the process and getting young people to vote is something that I've been doing even before I even considered

36:16to 10 money money ballad to run now I'm one in those feed articles from the primary election talk about young voters surge in the 2026 primary early voting compared to 2022 but still trail the older generations and it's an early voting participation search territory white in 2026 with 70001 Gen 13 voters like a much earlier cast not early ballads is that every age bracket saw more early voters in 2026 to 222 but the pace of that group very sharply by age and it was the youngest brackets that grew fastest even though they remained the smallest year of the only all voting electorate so they still work to be done they still work to be done okay closer remarks glad to have you here on the candidate speak so tell the people why they should elect some are against to be a board of Virgin asked board of election remember representing the district as incorrect so I want to first thank you and WCJX for the opportunity to to you know be here this morning again I'm no stranger to this community I'm no stranger to hard walk I'm no stranger to kind of work that my name is

37:27Samari hands again I currently serve as a deputy commissioner with the Department of Tourism I own the simply sophisticated front room I am the president slash former vice president of the governor's millennial console I am approachable I am relatable I'm not afraid I'm very courageous I don't I know I don't know it all but I'm willing to take the chance and I brave right so you know I'm asking for your support and I'm also asking you to challenge me I'm very easy to find me name number my charm are here again number five on the ballot for the board of elections and if you see me ask me tough questions thank you very much for saying here's my life or you know I'm just wanting to count this big and success with the campaign thank you very much this is been good you got it we'll take a break and be back right after this

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41:11I'm back here I'm Liza some like that Mr. Shamari hands for joining us he's a candidate for the board of elections he was on the candidate speak and we'll see how that plays out in another 54 days right T minus 54 so I was just looking over this article on this July 30th article that our terminator wrote for the news feed and just looking at the numbers like I had a seven in roof was tumbled and all the people living in same time was right and they said comparison of early voting data right from the election system of Virgin Islands shows that turnout among voters under 35 grew faster than any other age group between the 2022 and 2026 democratic gubernatorial primaries even as all the voters continue to cast a large majority of early ballots right it's an early voting participation surge territory wide in the 2026 democratic primary with 71113 voters casting ballots early 34% of the active registered Democrats as a third right

42:34so that's that's all we get a 2021 thousand from we'd register democratic territory white and that's 71113 right compared to 4,418 in 2022 and we used 2022 because that was a gubernatorial cycle as well and increase of 61% right the syncroy syncroya conifer 3461 of this year's early votes and same time as 3444 with syn with syn jane contributed 208 right so district white right you had 3600 and 52 voters in sync tamas and syn jane and 3461 voters and syncroy every age back bracket saw more early voters in 2026 than in 2022 now that's not a population thing you know

43:37that's a participation thing right with the pace of that growth varied sharply by age and it was the youngest brackets that grew fastest even though they remain the smallest share of the early voting electorate 18 to 24 right check this out only 67 early voters in that bracket in 2022 all right when 2026 the number jump up to 209 now still a small number but that's a 212% increase all right that's what you get a tripling right the 25 to 34 group grew by 133% right so that more than doubled the 35 to 44 group grew by 108% that's another double in the plus right combine early voters on the 35 grew from 246 to 626

44:48a jump of about of about 155% while voters on the 45 if you include that last bracket 35 to 45 all together more than doubled from 588 to 1339 by contrast voters 45 and older who still cast the overwhelming majority of early ballots in both years grew a combined 51% from 3830 to 5774 the 45 to 54 bracket posted the smallest percentage increase of any age group up 36% but that's because they already had the big denominator from in 2022 it also fell from the third largest early voting age group in 2022 to the smallest among voters 45 and old 45 and older in 2026 so the the voters right right between 55 and 64 and 64 and 65 to 74

46:06they are the most reliable voting blood in the Virgin Islands right the net effect younger residents still make up a small fraction of the early voting pool voters on a 35 were less than 9% of all early ballots cast in 2026 but that share has grown up from about 5.6% in 2022 voters 55 and older meanwhile continue to account for roughly two thirds of all early votes in both elections can you imagine that? and repeat that again voters 55 and older of which I happen to be a part of right continue to account for roughly two thirds two out of every three voters in the early voting are 55 and up though they're share of the total dips slightly from 68% in 2022 to about 66% in 2026

47:14the increase in youth participation was not confined to one island in the 18 to 24 bracket sink early voters more than quadruple from 25 about 325 in 2022 to 110 while cinemas nearly 2 and a half times over from 39 to 95 so so we get more enthusiasm on the synchrocyte than cinemas said right cinjans youth turn out while numerically small also grew from three voters each 18 to 24 in 2022 to four in 2026 and from three to four in the 25 to 34 bracket cinjans and I love out of that right and I look out for you right don't tell me only four young people four young democrats

48:23eight in total between 18 to 24 and 25 to 34 four in each in each in each bracket right participate in one-game right the data suggests that campaigns and groups encouraging younger residents to vote early may be gaining some traction even if all the voters continue to dominate turn out in raw numbers right so we got to be better even though the the interest is there let's see we got some small numbers with the younger people so let's try to don't bring that up that's looking at the data you know and you know vote up participation because you need it man you're checked you need it okay so here we go right you know I asked the questions earlier and I keep telling people don't the audience it's the best part of the show the two district chairs right

49:29the St. Croix district chair is San Jose Tore and she's a regular um contribute that uh uh analyze this via text message and educate me on all that stuff uh so thank you very much Mr. Tore my fact is the one who educate me so let me know that when kitchen up playing in music he makes sure it'll be arranged so that we play it in pan in a desanto while we hear in a radio and the same time as the district chair is Bob repeaterson come morning Bob repeaterson okay I would also hope I'd like for um the ICM party to make their um leadership representation available to me as well as the Republic and party you're right because you know um and I lays this it's for everybody right um um thanks for this information here so district chair San Jose Tore uh St. Croix and uh Bob repeaterson seeing Thomas seeing Jan or seeing Thomas

50:34I don't know sometimes seeing Jan or Gareon that one's because seeing Jan there right so the ladies running things a democratic party right now and uh it is like that right yes it Santa Francis at text me San Jose Tore I didn't pick up this phone and San Jose Tore and actually actually text me herself as well so uh i apologize for not responding but you know I had a candidate here and we were um focusing on that right um the I cannot text my sister if I want people to know I got to follow up with that when they show them right no last night apparently they have this um midterm convention going on down in Dallas right and uh the president and all of his die-hard supporters supporters or whatever

51:34terms you are used right um they were down there and you know um that stuff but apparently the president made a promise last night that um resident it so I won't repeat it I won't play it for you so you could hear it right and here is what the president had to say right this are the president had to say last night right um it got a lot of traction even when I came and this one I was listening to it my employee my co-workers here my colleagues here they were we were all just you know thinking about what he said so here we go yeah now I'm okay now yeah yeah that only I can make this promise to you and here is my promise if the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate both of them because of our economic

52:34tremendous economic success like in history we've never had anything like what's happening but because of our tremendous strength and success economically I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for five thousand dollars very much like a successful company will do a cash distribution to a chair oldest or like last year when I gave our great members of the military 1776 remember no of course when he made this statement people weren't surprised because they know that he's a great promising

53:40but they started doing the math and they said 270 million adults right times 5,000 who will land it right 270,000,000,000,000 right times 5,000,000,000 that's only one million, one trillion, 350 billion now as well for a country right now that ain't going to surplus running at a deficit and we have a lot of courts and addages so I'll make sure I pull it up only I can make this promise man the one only done our Trump right let me say cool let me let me look at the courts about promises right yeah a lot of courts I gotta find them

54:56William Shakespeare a promise made is a debt unpaid right but yeah another one man oh yeah I want to say a promise is a cloud fulfillment is rain right that's a prevo right but I know of one that talk about promises I comfort we got calling it like go minding color mind him yeah mind him yeah did you call it whether it's always already no the guy I saw something on one of the one of the station for the recall what did I say and I didn't quite understand it because it was on the underwater I got kind of something going on I believe it's starting to see them or think I was seeing it in the clouds on me you know the clouds

55:57you know what I said you know when George Bush had been a dollar flow that one time and four hours and one time a flow that was in 2005 I remember I'm yeah and then I'm kissing you down during the Nixon term yeah you get a hundred thousand that come forward in I'm telling you yeah so what's the word okay I'm gonna look down on up yeah yeah um how's the word over there because it's supposed to by the way we name send me the photo they come down the walk and I think by defense okay good okay but at least the walking and it that's the most important thing

56:58okay good we'll talk take it yeah as you go to a break right this promise is a comfort to a full it's a traditional prevo meaning the unverified words and empty assurances only suit those who trust blindly without demanding real action or proof so we named it five thousand promise window for twenty twenty six men thank god we take a break and we back right after this the views and opinions expressed on analyze this are entirely those of the on-air participants and do not reflect those of the station's board management staff or underwriters the global order as we know it is changing rapidly this is having a big impact on the entire region and Iran intends to share the pain with the neighbors why do you think Putin's looking for a way

58:01out when you look just to share numbers alone between one point two and one point four million cashless he's not winning every week here on compass points we'll provide you some direction to help us understand a critical issue and how it affects you at home. Tune in Sundays at 6 pm on WTJX TV channel 12 welcome to Milk Street's my family recipe we bring home cooks to our Boston studio where along with our host and pastry chef Cheryl Day we help home cooks rediscover lost family recipes you're gonna be able to bake this cake I can do it we send them home to recreate that recipe for the toughest audience their own family right here on Milk Street my family recipe Tune in Saturdays at 3.30 pm on WTJX TV channel 12