Name Adlah Jr. | Role Politician | |
Alma mater University of the Virgin IslandsUniversity of PhoenixMadison University | ||
Adlah Alphonso "Foncie" Donastorg, Jr. (born December 30, 1961) is a U.S. Virgin Islander politician, who served as a Senator in the Legislature of the Virgin Islands for seven terms from January 1995 through January 2011. He was most recently a Democratic candidate for Governor of the United States Virgin Islands in the 2010 and the 2014 gubernatorial elections.
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Personal life
Donastorg was born on December 30, 1961, in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands to Josefina and Adlah Donastorg, Sr. He is the father of six children - Sean, Adlah, Vanessa, Erika, Adonte, and Amiel - and is married to Benedicta "Bennie" Acosta-Donastorg.
Political career
Donastorg was first elected to the U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature in 1994. He took office as a Senator in January 1995 at the beginning of the 21st Legislature and served as Senator for seven terms through January 2011.
Donastorg was previously a candidate for Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2006 as an Independent. His running mate for Lieutenant Governor was Dr. Cora Christian. However, Donastorg was defeated in the general election by John de Jongh, who won the 2006 gubernatorial election.
On July 25, 2010, Adlah Donastorg announced his candidacy for Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands in the upcoming 2010 gubernatorial election. He announced his intention to challenge incumbent Governor John de Jongh in the Democratic primary on September 11, 2010. Donastorg, in his candidacy speech at the Estate La Grande Princesse, chose his running mate, Samuel Baptiste.
Donastorg pledged to focus on crime reduction. He challenged Governor de Jongh to three debates.
In the 2010 Democratic gubernatorial primary election, Donastorg was defeated by incumbent Governor John de Jongh. Governor de Jongh received 7,487 votes, or 53% of the vote, while Donastorg and Baptiste came in second place with 4,300 votes in the primary.
2010 trial
Donastorg was arrested on March 5, 2010, in Saint Croix, in connection with a January 2010 alleged assault. He turned himself in at the request of investigators.
Donastorg was charged with four counts of domestic violence, including two felony charges. The charges were third-degree assault, using a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault and brandishing a deadly weapon. His accuser accused Donastorg of assault and threatening her with a gun. However, the woman recanted her claims against Donastorg on March 9, four days after his arrest.
Donastorg's lawyer accused the prosecution of political motivation, since the charges were filed during a gubernatorial election year. The judge in the case agreed to allow expert testimony in the trial, which began on September 20, 2010.
On September 23, 2010, a twelve-member jury found Donastorg not guilty and acquitted him of all charges.