Testimony of Cindy L. Richardson  
Director, Division of Personnel 
Special Session – Bill 36-00124 
 August 1, 2025 
 
Good day Senate President, members of the 36th Legislature, staff, colleagues, and the 
viewing and listening audience. I am Cindy Richardson Director of the Division of Personnel; 
with me today is Julio Rhymer, Director of OMB and Kevin McCurdy, Commissioner of 
Department of Finance.  
 
 Thank you for the opportunity to offer testimony in support of Bill 36-0124, an act repealing 
title 18, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 1, section 2 enacting provisions to allow government 
employees seeking office to maintain their employment.   This bill represents a meaningful 
and necessary step toward ensuring equitable access to public service for all Government 
of the Virgin Islands (GVI) employees, while maintaining essential safeguards to protect the 
integrity of government operations.  
 
As the Division of Personnel previously testified on Bill No. 35-0032, which proposed 
allowing government employees to run for political office while actively employed, unless 
specifically prohibited by federal or other laws, we supported the core intent behind that 
measure of ensuring that government employees are not unduly burdened or discouraged 
from seeking elected office due to financial hardship or procedural barriers.  The existing 
requirement, which mandates a leave of absence merely upon filing for candidacy, has 
created an uneven playing field, disproportionately affecting employees without the benefit 
of accrued leave or the ability to absorb unpaid time off.  
 
The measure as put forth, builds on the foundation of the prior proposed measure, and 
several of the key issues raised previously:  
 
• It eliminates the requirement for an automatic leave of absence, replacing it with a 
fair and enforceable standard that prohibits campaigning during working hours and 
the use of public resources for political purposes; 
• It includes clear accountability provisions—disciplinary action, financial penalties, 
and repayment requirements—for employees who violate the restrictions; 
• It maintains necessary restrictions on employees of the Board of Elections, 
Supervisor of Elections, and Board of Education to avoid conflicts of interest or 
interference in the electoral process; 
• It removes the financial and professional penalty of being forced onto leave at the 
outset of a campaign, while still respecting the operational needs of the government 
and maintaining ethical standards; 
  
These mechanisms serve to reinforce the core principle that public resources and public 
time must be protected from misuse—without denying government employees their 
democratic rights.  
 
As with our prior testimony, we reiterate mindfulness as it relates to the practical 
implications for employees who may ultimately need to take leave—particularly in the event 
of a run-off or special election. It would be prudent to add language that outlines the options 
available to employees in these circumstances, especially with regard to use of leave, 
eligibility for Leave Without Pay (LWOP), and associated consequences for retirement 
service credit and health insurance premium payments. While the current version simplifies 
the process and minimizes disruptions, some operational clarity in cases of leaves of 
absence and/or extended campaigns should be reemphasized for both employees and 
agency awareness.  
 
In closing, this bill protects the integrity of the public service while enhancing access to the 
democratic process. The Division of Personnel is in full support of this measure as proposed, 
with the recommendation that clarifying language be added to address leave and benefit 
considerations in the event of extended elections, such as run-offs or special elections. We 
believe this enhancement will further ensure smooth implementation and transparency for 
both employees and agencies.  
 
Thank you for the opportunity to testify. We stand ready to support the adoption and rollout 
of this measure.