ST. CROIX — Eyeing a family legacy in local politics, Assistant Tourism Commissioner Elizabeth Hansen Watley — daughter of former Senator Alicia “Chucky” Hansen, who died in 2023 — picked up papers Tuesday as an independent to run for Senate on St. Croix, as aspirants continued to grab nomination petitions across both districts.
Watley, who has served as assistant commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Tourism since February 2019, is also a radio personality, soca artist, and chair of the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission. Her mother, who served 11 terms in the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, died of cancer on October 2, 2023.
Democrat Ophelia “Nemmy” Williams-Jackson also picked up a senatorial petition on St. Croix Tuesday. Jackson, a former educator and radio personality, previously ran for Senate in the 2018 primary election and 2022 general election. Former Senator Norman Jn Baptiste, an independent who served five consecutive terms in the Legislature, picked up a senatorial petition Monday. After serving as a senator from the 23rd to the 27th Legislature, Jn Baptiste lost his reelection bid in 2008, and has failed in his efforts to recapture a senatorial seat in the subsequent elections of 2010, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024. Troy Brown, an independent, also picked up papers on Monday to run for Senate.
Also on St. Croix, independent Kareem Francis, a current Board of Elections member elected in 2022, and independent Careeme Smith both picked up Board of Elections papers Monday. Democrat Mojania Denis picked up papers Monday for the Board of Education.
In the St. Thomas/St. John District, Democrat Shikima Jones-Sprauve, who is serving her second consecutive term on the Board of Elections after being elected in 2018, picked up papers Tuesday to run for reelection. Democrat Chester Hodge picked up Board of Elections papers Monday.
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Picking up nomination papers does not obligate a candidate to formally file. Candidates may file between May 12 and 19.
