Albert Bryan Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Albert Bryan
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| 9th Governor of the United States Virgin Islands | |
| Assumed office January 7, 2019 |
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| Lieutenant | Tregenza Roach |
| Preceded by | Kenneth Mapp |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Albert Bryan Jr.
February 21, 1968 St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Yolanda Cabodevilla
(m. 1998; separted 2023) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Government House |
| Education | Wittenberg University (BA) University of the Virgin Islands (MBA) |
Albert Bryan Jr. (born February 21, 1968) is a United States Virgin Islands politician serving since 2019 as the ninth governor of the United States Virgin Islands.
Contents
Early life and education
Bryan was born on the island of St. Thomas, to Albert Sr. and Genevieve (Pilgrim) Bryan, the oldest of five sons. He grew up in the Savan neighborhood of Charlotte Amalie, the territory’s capital. As a teenager, Bryan moved to St. Croix, where he graduated from St. Dunstan's Episcopal High School in 1985. Bryan earned his Bachelor of Arts in economics from Wittenberg University in 1989. He received a Master of Business Administration from the University of the Virgin Islands St. Croix Campus in 2003.
Career
In 2007, Governor John de Jongh appointed Bryan as Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Labor. When de Jongh's term ended in 2015, he returned to the private sector. Bryan was CEO and President of Aabra Group, a consulting firm, and Master Strategies, a recruiting firm. He also was executive director of the Virgin Islands chapter of Junior Achievement.
2018 gubernatorial election
- Campaign slogan: Change Course Now
In April 2018, Bryan officially announced his candidacy for governor and chose Tregenza Roach as his running mate. They won the August 4 Democratic primary with 39.23% of the vote, defeating former Finance commissioner Angel E. Dawson Jr. and former Senator Allison "Allie" Petrus. The team campaigned on restoring trust to government, stabilizing the economy, modernizing infrastructure, education, healthcare, reducing crime and poverty, affordable housing, and attracting rum distilleries to rescue GERS. Bryan led the 2018 general election with 38% of the vote and defeated incumbent governor Kenneth Mapp in a runoff with over 55% of the vote. He is the second Democrat to unseat a sitting governor since Charles W. Turnbull in 1998.
2022 gubernatorial election
Bryan launched his reelection bid on May 11, 2022. In the August 6 primary, he defeated Kent Bernier Sr. with 65.04% of the vote. He won the November 8 general election, defeating Senator Kurt Vialet and two other candidates with 56% of the vote.
Political career
Inauguration
Bryan was sworn in as the 9th governor of the United States Virgin Islands by Rhys Hodge, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands on January 7, 2019, at the David Monsanto Bandstand, which was built by his grandfather Ulric “Sappy” Pilgrim in Emancipation Gardens on St. Thomas. Before the ceremony, Bryan and his family attended a inaugural mass at Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral. The inauguration proceed with military parades and inaugural balls held on all three islands.
First term
Bryan requested an extension to the Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power (STEP) program, which FEMA approved. Due to shortage of psychiatrists, he issued an executive order declaring a mental healthcare state of emergency in the territory. In April 2019, Bryan said a new major hotel would be built on St. Croix during his first term. Bryan paid off all outstanding debt to the Virgin Islands Water & Power Authority for 2019 and prior years, making the government up to date on payments. In August 2019, Bryan faced criticism from Senators Kurt Vialet and Janelle Sarauw following his response ahead of Hurricane Dorian. Bryan launched the Envision Tomorrow program to assist homeowners and landlords whose properties were damaged by two hurricanes in 2017.
A member of the National Governors Association, Bryan was appointed in February 2021 to co-chair the NGA Task Force on Community Renewal. On August 27, 2021, he sued to prevent the implementation of Act 8472, which reduces the WAPA board from nine members to seven.
Cabinet
| Agency | Commissioner/Director |
|---|---|
| Department of Finance | Clarina Modeste-Elliott (acting) Bosede Bruce (2021-2023) Kirk Callwood (2019-2020) |
| OMB | Jenifer O’Neal |
| Department of Education | Dionne Wells-Hendrington Racquel Berry-Benjamin (2019-2022) |
| Department of Sports, Parks & Recreation | Calvert White |
| Department of Public Works | Derek Gabriel Nelson Petty (2015-2021) |
| Department of Justice | Ariel Smith Carol Thomas-Jacobs (acting) Denise George (2019-2023) |
| Department of Labor | Gary Molloy |
| Bureau of Internal Revenue | Joel Lee |
| Department of Property & Procurement | Lisa Alejandro Anthony Thomas (2019-2023) |
| Virgin Islands Police Department | Ray Martinez Trevor Velinor (2019-2021) |
| Department of Tourism | Joseph Boschulte |
| Department of Human Services | Kimberley Causey-Gomez |
| Department of Health | Justa Encarnacion |
| Department of Personnel | Cindy Richardson Dayna Clendinen (2019-2021) |
| Bureau of Motor Vehicles | Barbara McIntosh |
| Virgin Islands Fire Department | Darryl George |
| Office of Veteran Affairs | Patrick Farrell |
| Bureau of Corrections | Wynnie Testamark |
| Department of Agriculture | Dr. Louis Petersen Positive Nelson (2019-2023) |
| Department of Planning & Natural Resources | Jean Pierre Oriol |
| Virgin Islands Energy Office | Kyle Fleming |
| Bureau of Information Technology | Rupert Ross |
| Office of Collective Bargaining | Joss Springette |
| VITEMA | Daryl Jaschen |
| Department of Licensing & Consumer Affairs | Richard Evangelista |
| Law Enforcement Planning Commission | Angela Campbell Ray Martinez (2019-2021) |
| Virgin Islands National Guard | Col. Kodjo Knox-Limbacker |
Proposed legislation
- January 28, 2019: A bill allowing the attorney general to serve for six-year terms.
- October 25, 2019: The Virgin Islands Emergency Medical Services System Act to merge Fire Services with EMS.
- January 16, 2020: The Virgin Islands Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Act
- August 11, 2020: Matching Fund Securitization Act
- August 15, 2022: A bill to increase the amount of funding for retroactive wages from $25 million to $40 million to repay government employees. (Senate approved: 08/30/2022; enacted by governor: 09/16/2022)
Personal life
Bryan and his wife, Yolanda Cabodevilla, have been married since 1998. They have two daughters, Aliyah and Sumuyah. In November 2023, Bryan filed for divorce from Yolanda.
