After the announcement of Tuesday’s unofficial results, many winning candidates shared their gratitude and goals, emphasizing the need for progress and accountability within the Virgin Islands government.
Sen. Kurt Vialet, St. Croix’s highest vote-getter, expressed deep appreciation for the support from his community, saying, “I am ecstatic, humbled, and overwhelmed – I’m grateful for the support I received today.”
Vialet highlighted the role of the Senate as a critical check on the executive branch, noting, “The most important role of the legislature is to have oversight, to hold the executive branch accountable.” Reflecting on St. Croix’s challenges, he added, “It’s just one thing after another—roads, lighting, people striking. The community encouraged me to run again, and I want to be that influence to ensure we’re on the right path.”
For Vialet, major priorities include improving instructional time in education, stabilizing power rates at WAPA through better management, and advancing federal projects with looming deadlines. “We’ve got to spend federal funds by certain dates,” he stressed, underscoring his commitment to moving forward swiftly.
Newcomer Clifford Joseph, who earned the second-highest vote on St. Croix, expressed excitement and humility about the opportunity to serve.
“I’m happy tonight, I’m humbled,” he shared. “I put in the work, and now I feel the trust of the people.” Joseph expressed a deep desire to work transparently and tackle pressing issues like the power situation on St. Croix. “We all need to sit down and come to some kind of agreement moving forward—our economy won’t progress without affordable, reliable power.”
Joseph also emphasized his commitment to collaborating with colleagues for meaningful change. “I’m not here to shuffle money or make favors. I want to work hard to bring the Virgin Islands back to the place I remember.”
Sen. Kenneth Gittens, reelected for another term, acknowledged the responsibility that lies ahead. “Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote this year,” he said. “There’s a lot of work ahead as we push forward with recovery projects and modernize operations. We’re not where we need to be yet, but we are finally seeing some progress. My goal is to make our government more responsive to the community’s needs at every level.”
Sen. Marise James, currently chair of the Legislature’s Education Committee, echoed Gittens’ sentiment, adding that she felt encouraged by the public’s support to continue her work. “I feel really good to continue the work I began,” she said. James highlighted her efforts in early childhood education and the passage of key legislation, such as the casino regulations on ships and a statute of limitations for child abuse cases. Reflecting on being the only female candidate elected from St. Croix, James remarked, “The Virgin Islands is conservative, even more so than the mainland, and we haven’t embraced women in leadership as we should. I’m hoping to be a part of that change.”
On St. Thomas-St. John, incumbent Sen. Milton Potter reflected on his role as chair of the Committee on Disaster Recovery, emphasizing that much remains to be done in managing federal disaster recovery funds. He noted, “We’re falling into the trap of approaching WAPA in the same way—going around in circles with no visible signs of progress. We need to split WAPA’s day-to-day administration from its rebuilding and transformational efforts. One person can’t handle it all.”
Potter, now in his third term, shared, “I just want to make a difference. This is where I live, and I believe we need to step up and get involved rather than sit on the sidelines.”
Sen. Alma Francis Heyliger echoed the community’s concerns about pressing issues, like the exchange of Whistling Cay — a 17.97-acre island off Mary Point on the north shore of St. John that is owned by the territory — for an 11.3-acre site in Estate Catherineberg owned by the National Park.
“The public has spoken, and I’ve heard them,” she said. “Across the board, young and old, people want leaders who are vocal, who tell them the truth, and who address what matters. I’m grateful they’ve pushed me to keep doing just that.”
Avery Lewis, former St. Thomas-Water Island administrator and a new Senate face, also shared his motivation to run after seeing the impact he could make firsthand. “I want to see a cleaner, healthier Virgin Islands community,” he said, pointing to issues like affordable housing and homelessness prevention. “We need creative thinkers who will approach these challenges thoughtfully.”
In a statement sent out Tuesday night, Senator-At-Large Angel Bolques expressed profound gratitude for the community’s overwhelming support, describing the victory as a collective achievement rooted in a shared vision for a better Virgin Islands.
“This win is not just mine – it’s ours. It shows the power of unity, resilience, and the deep love we all have for these islands,” he said. Bolques pledged to continue working with passion and purpose, committed to making the Virgin Islands stronger, more united, and full of opportunities for all residents. “Thank you for trusting me once again; together, we’ll push forward.”
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. congratulated the winning candidates after the unofficial territorial results were posted a little after 11 p.m. Tuesday, praising their dedication to the Virgin Islands. “To each candidate who earned the community’s trust, I extend my deepest congratulations. I look forward to working together to uplift our territory and tackle the challenges ahead,” he said.
Bryan also thanked Virgin Islanders for their participation, calling it “a testament to commitment to our community,” and acknowledged that voters helped shape the future. To those not elected, he offered encouragement, emphasizing that “your voices are vital, and your dedication does not go unrecognized.”
