Moleto A. Smith Jr to run for USVI Governor for second time
In 1999 to 2007 Charles W. Turnbull Phd, whose parents, grandparents and great grandparents were from Tortola, was the sixth Governor of the USVI.
In 2015 Tortola born Osbert E. Potter, who lived on Tortola until he was 10 years old, became the Lieutenant Governor of the USVI where Kenneth E. Mapp (2015-current) is the governor.
The boy from Huntum’s Ghut
Now, for the second try, Moleto A. Smith Jr, who spent time in Huntum's Ghut, on the main island of Tortola where his father Moleto A. Smith Sr, better known as 'Bishop', and paternal grandparents were born, will make another run for Governor of the USVI.
Moleto is the first cousin of Wade N. Smith, the VI Comptroller of Customs, and nephew of the late Legislator and Minister for Health and Welfare Ethlyn E. Smith. She also served as a Permanent Secretary with the VI Government in several Ministries.
Mr Smith ran in 2014 in the Democratic primary where he was unsuccessful; however, he believes his chances are “much better this time as people want a change.” It is unclear, if he will seek the Democratic party’s nomination through their primary, or run as an Independent, as he declined to comment when contacted by our newsroom.
The USVI's next election for Governor is due on November 6, 2018. Mr Smith, who is the Executive Director of the St Thomas, USVI based East End Medical Centre Corporation is expected to have Hubert L. Frederick, a St Croix businessman, as his running mate, according to a source close to the campaign.
Both men, who ran for Governor and Lieutenant Governor respectively in 2014, have already started posting campaign materials on their Facebook pages.
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