ST. CROIX— Former Senate President Donna Frett-Gregory picked up papers Friday in the St. Thomas/St. John district as a Democrat for the governor’s race, bringing the number of potential gubernatorial aspirants to eight since the petitions became available on Tuesday.
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Frett-Gregory, first elected to the Legislature of the Virgin Islands in 2020, served three terms beginning in the 33rd Legislature. She served as Senate president in the 34th Legislature. Prior to her political career, she served as commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Education.
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Also in the St. Thomas/St. John District on Friday, Republican Derrick Callwood, who ran for Senate in 2024, picked up a senatorial petition. Democrats Shenelle Fina Francis, who also ran for Senate in 2024, and Monique Faulkner also picked up senatorial petitions.
Additionally, two Democrats currently serving on the Board of Education picked up papers in the St. Thomas/St. John District to continue serving on the board.
Former two-term Senator Judy Gomez and six-term Board of Education member whose career included serving as an educator and attorney picked up papers. Arah Lockhart, a longtime Board of Education member, also picked up a petition.
On St. Croix, independent Alvin M.A. Milligan picked up a senatorial petition. Republican Franz Christian Jr., who previously ran for a seat on the Board of Elections in 2024, picked up papers for the board again. Christian, who was 97 votes shy of winning a seat on the board in 2024, was sworn in as a board member on April 10 as the replacement for former board member Florine Audain Hassell, who resigned last month. Democrat Anthony Mardenborough Jr., an educator who currently serves on the Virgin Islands Board of Career and Technical Education, picked up papers for the Board of Elections and the Board of Education. He previously ran for the Board of Elections in the 2024 primary election but did not advance.
Picking up nomination papers does not obligate a candidate to formally file. The first day to circulate nomination papers/petitions is Sunday. Candidates may file between May 12 and 19.
