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by pltm
(PLTM) - Mark Vanterpool, who was elected as District Four Representative in the February 25 General Elections, has changed his mind about retiring from representational politics and will be returning to the House of Assembly (HoA).
In an announcement earlier today, March 14, Vanterpool disclosed that he has decided to be sworn in as the representative, further divulging that his resignation letter was addressed to the Clerk of the House of Assembly, instead of the Speaker, as mandated by the Constitution, and as such was invalid. In his public message today, he related that since his March 5 retirement announcement, he has been listening to the concerns of the people.
“These concerns have weighed heavily on my mind, day in and day out. I recognize the huge responsibility and trust that you the people in the Fourth District in particular have placed in me over the past many years,” he stated.
Speaking to his resignation letter, he related that the Clerk of the HoA had advised him of the invalidity. However, he shared that yesterday, March 13, he received a letter from the new Speaker of the House, Hon. Julian Willock, telling him that while the letter needs to be addressed to him and it was not, he accepts the resignation notice.
“However, since I did not write to him originally, today, 14 March, 2019, in a letter addressed to the Speaker, I advised him that I wish to be sworn in at his earliest convenience as the representative for the Fourth District, as declared by the Supervisor of Elections,” Vanterpool further stated.
As he apologised to his constituents and people of the Territory, Vanterpool said, “In spite of my desire to resign as previously stated for personal reasons, I have listened to your calls and concerns, and wish to put those personal reasons aside. In the best interest of my country, I have made the decision to continue to represent you in the House of Assembly.”
