ST. CROIX — Former St. Croix Police Chief Oakland Benta picked up papers Monday as an independent to enter the governor’s race, bringing the number of known gubernatorial aspirants to nine as more candidates continued to pull nomination petitions for Senate and the Board of Elections across both districts.
Since the petitions became available last Tuesday at the Elections System of the Virgin Islands, individuals interested in running for public office have steadily picked them up to begin the process.
Benta, who served one term in the 33rd Legislature, ran as the running mate to gubernatorial candidate Kent Bernier Sr. in 2022 and most recently ran for Senate as an independent in 2024.
On St. Croix, independent Tyler Fay and Democrats Senator Clifford Joseph and Jose Gonzalez picked up senatorial petitions. Joseph, currently serving his first term in the Legislature, is a retired firefighter who served as director of the Virgin Islands Fire Service for three years under former Governor Kenneth Mapp.
Also on St. Croix, Democrat Raymond Williams picked up papers for the Board of Elections. Williams, a six-term board member who currently serves as its chair, also serves as director of the Virgin Islands Lottery, a position he has held since 2019. However, a 2023 amendment to an election statute bars “government officials” as defined in Title 3, Chapter 25, Subchapter IVa, Section 541 from being eligible as members of the Board of Elections. Government officials include “the attorney general, governor, members of the governor’s Cabinet, including all commissioners and directors of government agencies, the lieutenant governor, the judicial officers, senators of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, and all elected officials in the Virgin Islands who receive remuneration.”
In the St. Thomas/St. John District, independents Paula Duke and Eugene Farrell picked up senatorial petitions. Farrell, who serves as Senator Franklin Johnson’s lead researcher and previously ran for Senate in 2024, has a lengthy record of public service. After six years in the U.S. Army, he rose to the rank of command sergeant major in the Virgin Islands National Guard while simultaneously serving in the VI Fire Service. He later served as Mapp’s chief of staff in 2017.
Democrat Atanya Springette, a two-term Board of Elections member who joined the board in 2019, also picked up papers Monday for the board in the St. Thomas/St. John District.
READ MORE: Ex-Sen. Donna Frett-Gregory picks up papers to enter governor’s race as 2026 field continues to grow
READ MORE: Del. Stacey Plaskett picks up petition for gubernatorial race; elected offices field starts to form
READ MORE: Independents show interest in gubernatorial race as more aspirants pick up elected office petitions
READ MORE: Lt. Gov. Roach picks up gubernatorial papers as new candidates enter Senate and congressional races
Picking up nomination papers does not obligate a candidate to formally file. The first day to circulate nomination papers was Sunday. Candidates may file between May 12 and 19.
