May 24, 2007 – In response to the Source's 5/21/07 request for information concerning candidates' "agendas", "goals" and "important issues" I offer the following for my candidacy:
My general goals are to design a structure for a Government that is efficient, workable, flexible, responsive and fair to all. Decades of observing and studying the government, people and environment of the Virgin Islands has provided me with the political, social and historical data (and maturity) to offer workable solutions to the government's functional problems.
One of my first impressions of the V.I. Government was during 1966 when Governor Paiewonsky landed at St. Patrick's Catholic School's Playground in two US Marine Helicopters. We were in our dress uniforms, standing at attention in a phalanx formation under the old licorice tree just west of St. Gerard's Hall. The copters' rotor wash blew everyone's ties, skirts and the nuns' habits horizontal as they landed, a red carpet was rolled out, the Marines at attention and saluting as Governor Paiewonsky and entourage exited the copters. As I recall, he was whisked away in a black limo with the U.S. and V.I. Flags on the front fenders fluttering in the wind. So began my introduction to V.I. Politics.
By the 1970's the population had doubled and among the myriad of problems facing the rapidly developing territory the U.S. District Court ruled all children, regardless of citizenship, had the right to attend public schools. This overwhelmed the Dept. of Education and remains so. In 1966 the U.S. Congress and V.I. Legislature passed a resolution reapportioning legislative representation from three, three, one and four at-large senators to seven, seven and one at-large senators. Many say this created an imbalance of power favoring St. Thomas, i.e., the checks and balances was throw-off creating a major flaw in the structure of the legislative branch of government. I agree the legislature is inefficient, counter productive at times and there is an imbalance of power favoring St. Thomas. To fix the flaws I am for a smaller legislature based on sub-districts, Voter Initiative & Recall, Voter Referendum (for deciding important issue that can wait until the next general election, i.e., elected officials' salaries), simple and separate executive branch governments (without layers) for each major district that are responsible for providing basic government services, and a CFO required to produce quarterly financial reports per accepted standards. A constitution is the framework, or plan, for the basis of a government. The constitution drafted by the Delegates, must have "Equal Checks & Balances" between the major districts; this is a major goal of mine.
To accomplish these goals I'm counting on my negotiating, organizational, analytical, and complex problem solving skills; and skills being a Registered Neutral / Arbitrator by the American Arbitration Association. During 1988 – 1992 I took the lead as a community activist via The Frederiksted Pier Ad Hoc Committee and Our Town Frederiksted to the get the Frederiksted Pier replaced; this took dynamic technical lobbying. I can deliver the same dynamic energy to develop a constitution.
The Fifth Constitutional Convention is our chance to improve the quality of life for all Virgin Islanders. It is the chance of a lifetime, let's do it and "vote"; vote for candidates that have proven themselves as creative problem solvers.
No. 53 Daniel "Danny" Coughlin, P.E., S.E., M. ASCE, Candidate – District of St. Croix
