List of governors of the United States Virgin Islands facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of Virgin Islands |
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Seal of the U.S. Virgin Islands
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| Style |
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| Residence | U.S. Virgin Islands Governor's Mansions |
| Term length | Four-year term,
renewable once
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| Constituting instrument | Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands Elective Governor Acts of 1968 |
| Formation | 1917 (as Naval Governor) 1931 (as Civilian Governor) 1970 (as elected Governor) |
| First holder | Melvin Herbert Evans |
| Deputy | Tregenza Roach |
| Salary | $150,690 |
The Governor of the United States Virgin Islands is the top leader of the United States Virgin Islands. This person is like the chief executive of the territory. They have important jobs, like giving a yearly speech about the territory's condition. They also propose the budget and make sure that local laws are followed. The role of an elected governor started in 1970. This happened after the Elective Governor Acts of 1968 were passed. Melvin Herbert Evans was the first person chosen by the people for this job.
Contents
What Does the Governor Do?
The governor has many important duties for the U.S. Virgin Islands. They are the head of government, meaning they lead the executive branch. This branch carries out the laws. The governor makes sure that public laws are put into action. They also present the territory's budget each year. This budget shows how the government plans to spend money. The governor also gives a "State of the Territory" speech. This speech tells the Virgin Islands Legislature about the territory's progress.
How Governors Were Chosen: A Look Back
Before 1970, the governors of the U.S. Virgin Islands were not elected by the people. Instead, they were appointed by the President of the United States. This changed over time, moving from military leaders to civilian leaders.
When the United States first bought the Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917, the territory was managed by the U.S. Navy. The leaders during this time were called Naval Governors. They were officers from the Navy. These governors were chosen by the U.S. President. They were in charge of the islands until 1931.
Civilian Governors (1931–1970)
In 1931, the way the islands were governed changed. The U.S. Navy was no longer in charge. Instead, civilian governors were appointed. These governors were not military officers. They were still chosen by the U.S. President. This system continued until 1970. In that year, the people of the Virgin Islands gained the right to elect their own governor.
Elected Governors Today (1970–Present)
Since 1970, the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands have been able to vote for their governor. This was a big step for the territory. The governor serves a four-year term. They can be re-elected once. This means they can serve a maximum of two terms.
- Political Parties of Elected Governors
Republican (1) Independent Citizens Movement (1) Democratic (4) Independent (3)
| No. | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | Party | Election | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Started | Ended | How long | ||||||
| 1 |  |
Melvin H. Evans (1917–1984) |
November 1, 1970 | January 6, 1975 | 4 years, 66 days | Republican | 1970 | |
| 2 |  |
Cyril King (1921–1978) |
January 6, 1975 | January 2, 1978 | 2 years, 361 days | Independent Citizens Movement | 1974 | |
| 3 |  |
Juan Francisco Luis (1940–2011) |
January 2, 1978 | January 5, 1987 | 9 years, 3 days | Independent Citizens Movement (until 1979) |
1978 1982 |
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| Independent (1979 onward) |
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| 4 | |
Alexander Farrelly (1923–2002) |
January 5, 1987 | January 2, 1995 | 7 years, 362 days | Democratic | 1986 1990 |
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| 5 |  |
Roy Schneider (1939–2022) |
January 2, 1995 | January 4, 1999 | 4 years, 2 days | Independent | 1994 | |
| 6 | .jpg) |
Charles Wesley Turnbull (1935–2022) |
January 4, 1999 | January 1, 2007 | 7 years, 362 days | Democratic | 1998 2002 |
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| 7 |  |
John de Jongh (born 1957) |
January 1, 2007 | January 5, 2015 | 8 years, 4 days | Democratic | 2006 2010 |
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| 8 | .png) |
Kenneth Mapp (born 1955) |
January 5, 2015 | January 7, 2019 | 4 years, 2 days | Independent | 2014 | |
| 9 |  |
Albert Bryan (born 1968) |
January 7, 2019 | Incumbent | 6 years, 180 days | Democratic | 2018 2022 |
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What Happens if the Governor Can't Serve?
Just like in other places, there's a plan for who takes over if the governor can't do their job. This is called the line of succession. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Lieutenant Governor is next in line.
See Also
- List of Virgin Islands Legislatures
Images for kids
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Captain Edwin Taylor Pollock, an acting Naval Governor.
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Rear Admiral James Harrison Oliver, the first Naval Governor.
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Rear Admiral Joseph Wallace Oman.
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Rear Admiral Sumner Ely Wetmore Kittelle.
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Captain Henry Hughes Hough.
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Captain Philip Williams.
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Captain Martin Edward Trench.
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Captain Waldo A. Evans.
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Paul Martin Pearson, the first Civilian Governor.
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Robert Herrick, an acting Civilian Governor.
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Lawrence William Cramer.
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Robert Morss Lovett, an acting Civilian Governor.
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Charles Harwood.
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William H. Hastie.
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Morris Fidanque de Castro.
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Archie Alexander.
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Charles Kenneth Claunch, an acting Civilian Governor.
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Walter A. Gordon.
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John David Merwin.
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Ralph Moses Paiewonsky.
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Cyril King, an acting Civilian Governor.
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