Senator Positive Nelson Will Run For Virgin Islands Governor In 2018.

[TexasTowelie]

Senator Positive Nelson Will Run For Governor In 2018. ‘I Am Willing To Be Your Next Governor If You’re Tired Of This One,’ He Said

ST. CROIX — Veteran Senator Positive Nelson announced on Monday that he would seek the highest office of the USVI in the 2018 gubernatorial race, an announcement that changes the current dynamics of the gubernatorial field, while creating an opening in the Senate that was all but secured for Mr. Nelson.

The announcement came during a press event Mr. Nelson held at the Palms at Pelican Cove, where he sought to address the multiple issues facing the territory in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and the potential $7.5 billion windfall in disaster funding from the federal government, as well as his qualms with the community disaster loan that saw the local government agreeing to giving the federal government debt service payment priority over the territory’s current bondholders.

“I’m saying that there’s going to be a point in time that we are going to have to make a declaration and the papers are turned in,” Mr. Nelson said of his run. “I would like to have my papers turned in with my name as governor and a lieutenant governor with me pursuing the seat of governor.”

He added, “Between now and then I have work to do; I cannot be distracted, but I’m just making it clear to the people that put me in the race, if you think about somebody that can run this place, consider me.”

Read more: http://viconsortium.com/featured/senator-positive-nelson-will-run-for-governor-in-2018-i-am-willing-to-be-your-next-governor-if-youre-tired-of-this-one-he-said/

Related Article:
Nelson Wants Federal Oversight On Local Government Spending. He Is Also Still Bullish On Marijuana Legislation

Senator Positive Nelson is running for governor. But his press conference held at Palms at the Pelican Cove on Monday morning, he insisted, had nothing to do with his gubernatorial run, but rather his concerns relative to the territory’s recovery following Hurricanes Irma and Maria and developments that have followed. These concerns include the community disaster loan (CDL) and the federal government’s stipulation that it be paid first over the government’s current bondholders; the Mapp administration’s $7.5 billion request in disaster assistance from Congress and how the funds will be spent; perceived corruption in government and Mr. Nelson’s current position on the benefits of marijuana — medicinal and recreational — for the territory.

Relative to the CDL, Mr. Nelson said the federal government, since it’s demanding priority debt service payments over the territory’s bondholders, should buy the debt –which stands at over $2 billion — from the bondholders. “If you’re going to require lien you have to be willing to buyout our existing bonds so we could remain in the good with these individuals,” Mr. Nelson said. “It would give more time down the road, more money going to the general fund, and it gives us time to rebuild infrastructure and rebuild our economy.”

On the $7.5 billion disaster aid request, Mr. Nelson applauded the effort, but said he needed more details as to how the funds would be spent. The senator also questioned the continued use of the V.I. government’s current lobbyists in Washington, a firm he said has been paid tens of millions of dollars over the course of 40 years. He suggested that the government was not getting the best possible service for the money it continues to spend with the lobbying firm. “When you have new people, they are more hungry,” he said.

The senator like many others appeared to be confident that the federal government would provide some, if not all, of the $7.5 billion the local government has requested. In responding to a question from this reporter, Mr. Nelson said if Congress decided to not help the territory in its time of it, “it would really show who they are.”

Read more: http://viconsortium.com/featured/nelson-wants-federal-oversight-on-local-government-spending-he-is-also-still-bullish-on-marijuana-legislation/