Gerard Luz James
Encyclopedia
Gerard Luz James II is a United States Virgin Islander
politician
, funeral director
, and businessman. James served as the Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands
from 1999 until 2003 and is the current president of the Virgin Islands' fifth Constitutional Convention.
and Asta Klyvert-James. He was the family's first son and second child. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic school and the Christiansted Junior High in the Virgin Islands, before enrolling at the now defunct St. Emma’s Military Academy in Powhatan
, Virginia
. He graduated from the Miami Military Academy in Florida
in 1971.
in political science
from Howard University
in 1975. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served for six years. He was promoted to the rank of captain before being honorably discharged in 1981.
He studied mortuary science before returning to the United States Virgin Islands. James opened his funeral home
, the James Memorial Funeral Home in Christiansted, which he still owns as of 2010.
In 1998, Charles Turnbull, a candidate for Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, chose James as his running mate
for Lieutenant Governor
. The Turnull-James ticket was elected in the 1998 gubernatorial election. James was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor on Monday, January 4, 1999.
Turnbull and James had high profile, public disagreements during their tenure in office. The dispute led James to challenge Turnbull in the 2002 gubernatorial election. However, Turnbull defeated James and other challengers in the election. The Governor replaced named Vargrave Richards
as his new Lieutenant Governor.
Luz is the president of the Virgin Islands' fifth Consitutional Convention.
, an educator, as his running mate
.
James and Smith faced three opponents and two other candidates in the Democratic primary election
on September 11, 2010 - incumbent Governor John de Jongh
, Senator Adlah Donastorg and James O'Bryan Jr.
In the primary election, James came in third place behind the primary's winner, De Jongh, and Donastorg, who came in second place. Following the primary, James stated that he "accepted the people's decision," but further elaborated, "The people of the Virgin Islands showed me today that they really and truly endure mistreatment, endure corruption, endure mismanagement, and they also endure maltreatment to each other...The only thing that I can see is continued destruction, and it’s sad, sad, sad." James stated that he would not endorse Governor John de Jongh for a second term in the 2010 general election saying, "Why should I endorse anyone when it shows me truly that the people don’t want to have anything that is right?"
United States Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands of the United States are a group of islands in the Caribbean that are an insular area of the United States. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles.The U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, funeral director
Funeral director
A funeral director , also known as a mortician or undertaker, is a professional involved in the business of funeral rites. These tasks often entail the embalming and burial or cremation of the dead, as well as the planning and arrangement of the actual funeral ceremony...
, and businessman. James served as the Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands
Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands
The following is a list of Lieutenant Governors of the United States Virgin Islands.*David Earle Maas - Republican...
from 1999 until 2003 and is the current president of the Virgin Islands' fifth Constitutional Convention.
Early life
James was born in Saint Croix on March 18, 1953, to parents G. Luz A. JamesG. Luz A. James
Gerard Luz A. James, better known as G. Luz A. James, was a U.S. Virgin Islander politician, laywer, businessman and broadcaster. James was also the first Virgin Islander to become an adjutant general in the Virgin Islands National Guard.James was one of four brothers who were described as very...
and Asta Klyvert-James. He was the family's first son and second child. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic school and the Christiansted Junior High in the Virgin Islands, before enrolling at the now defunct St. Emma’s Military Academy in Powhatan
Powhatan, Virginia
Powhatan is an unincorporated community in and the county seat of Powhatan County, Virginia, United States. Powhatan was initially known as Scottville for a brief time, and historically has also been known as Powhatan Court House and Powhatan Courthouse...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He graduated from the Miami Military Academy in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in 1971.
Career
James received a bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
in 1975. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served for six years. He was promoted to the rank of captain before being honorably discharged in 1981.
He studied mortuary science before returning to the United States Virgin Islands. James opened his funeral home
Funeral home
A funeral home, funeral parlor or mortuary, is a business that provides burial and funeral services for the deceased and their families. These services may include aprepared wake and funeral, and the provision of a chapel for the funeral....
, the James Memorial Funeral Home in Christiansted, which he still owns as of 2010.
Political career
Gerard Luz James began his political career in 1992 when he was elected as a Senator in the Virgin Islands Legislature.In 1998, Charles Turnbull, a candidate for Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, chose James as his running mate
Running mate
A running mate is a person running together with another person on a joint ticket during an election. The term is most often used in reference to the person in the subordinate position but can also properly be used when referring to both candidates, such as "Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen were...
for Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands
The following is a list of Lieutenant Governors of the United States Virgin Islands.*David Earle Maas - Republican...
. The Turnull-James ticket was elected in the 1998 gubernatorial election. James was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor on Monday, January 4, 1999.
Turnbull and James had high profile, public disagreements during their tenure in office. The dispute led James to challenge Turnbull in the 2002 gubernatorial election. However, Turnbull defeated James and other challengers in the election. The Governor replaced named Vargrave Richards
Vargrave Richards
Vargrave A. Richards is a United States Virgin Islands politician and educator. Richards served as the Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands from 2003 until 2007 during the second term of Democratic Governor Charles Turnbull.-Early life:Richards is a former teacher...
as his new Lieutenant Governor.
Luz is the president of the Virgin Islands' fifth Consitutional Convention.
2010 gubernatorial candidacy
Gerard Luz James announced his candidacy for Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands as a Democrat. His campaign was officially launched on was made on August 1, 2010, in Buddhoe Park in Frederiksted. James chose Glen J. SmithGlen J. Smith
Glen J. Smith is a United States Virgin Islander educator and teacher. Smith was chosen by gubernatorial candidate Gerard Luz James as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands in the 2010 gubernatorial election. James and Semith ran as Democrats, but lost the...
, an educator, as his running mate
Running mate
A running mate is a person running together with another person on a joint ticket during an election. The term is most often used in reference to the person in the subordinate position but can also properly be used when referring to both candidates, such as "Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen were...
.
James and Smith faced three opponents and two other candidates in the Democratic primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
on September 11, 2010 - incumbent Governor John de Jongh
John de Jongh
John Percy de Jongh, Jr. is the current Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands.-Life and career:de Jongh was born in Brooklyn, New York. As a child he attended Sts. Peter and Paul School on St. Thomas. After his parents' divorce, he lived with his mother in Detroit, Michigan while his mother did...
, Senator Adlah Donastorg and James O'Bryan Jr.
James O'Bryan Jr.
James "Jimmy" O'Bryan Jr. is a United States Virgin Islander politician, spokesman and former press secretary. He previously served as the Administrator of the island of Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands....
In the primary election, James came in third place behind the primary's winner, De Jongh, and Donastorg, who came in second place. Following the primary, James stated that he "accepted the people's decision," but further elaborated, "The people of the Virgin Islands showed me today that they really and truly endure mistreatment, endure corruption, endure mismanagement, and they also endure maltreatment to each other...The only thing that I can see is continued destruction, and it’s sad, sad, sad." James stated that he would not endorse Governor John de Jongh for a second term in the 2010 general election saying, "Why should I endorse anyone when it shows me truly that the people don’t want to have anything that is right?"