Albert Bryan (politician)

Albert Bryan Jr. (born February 21, 1968) is an American Virgin Islander politician who is the ninth elected governor of the United States Virgin Islands, since 2019. He was commissioner of labor from 2007 to 2015.

Albert Bryan
9th Governor of the United States Virgin Islands
Assumed office
January 7, 2019
LieutenantTregenza Roach
Preceded byKenneth Mapp
Personal details
Born
Albert Bryan Jr.

(1968-02-21) February 21, 1968
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Yolanda Cabodevilla
Children2
Residence(s)Government House
EducationWittenberg University (BA)
University of the Virgin Islands (MBA)

Early life and professional career

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 the island 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 later received a Master of Business Administration from the University of the Virgin Islands St. Croix Campus in 2003.[1]

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.[2]

2018 gubernatorial election

In April 2018, Bryan officially announced his candidacy for Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands and chose Tregenza Roach as his running mate.[3] They won the August 4 Democratic primary earning 39.23% of the vote to defeat former Finance commissioner Angel E. Dawson Jr. and former Senator Allison "Allie" Petrus.[4] Bryan led the 2018 general election with 38% of the vote and won a November 20 runoff election defeating incumbent governor Kenneth Mapp with over 54% of the vote. He is the second Democratic candidate following Charles W. Turnbull in 1998 to unseat a sitting governor.[5]

Political career

Bryan was inaugurated 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.[6]

COVID-19 pandemic
Further information: COVID-19 pandemic in the United States Virgin Islands

On March 13, 2020, Bryan declared a state of emergency in response to the arrival of coronavirus in the territory.[7] Effective March 25, Bryan ordered all non-essential businesses to close and residents stay at home. In April 2020, Bryan scored high with USVI voters after a poll was conducted on his handling of the pandemic.[8] On April 8, Bryan postponed in-person public school classes for remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.[9] On June 7, 2021, Bryan announced his Vax-to-Win lottery incentive to increase vaccinations.[10] On April 20, 2022, Bryan who is vaccinated, tested positive for Covid-19 following recent trips in Washington, D.C. and Miami, Florida and remains isolated.[11]

Personal life

Bryan and his wife, Yolanda Cabodevilla, have been married since 1998. They have two daughters.[12]

References
  1. "Governor Bryan". Government of the United States Virgin Islands. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  2. "Governor Bryan". Government of the United States Virgin Islands. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  3. "Albert Bryan Picks Sen. Tregenza Roach as Gubernatorial Running Mate". St. Thomas Source. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  4. "Albert Bryan And Tregenza Roach Win Democratic Primary". VI Consortium. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  5. "Albert Bryan Becomes Ninth Elected Governor Of US Virgin Islands". VI Consortium. November 20, 2018.
  6. "Bryan, Roach take oath in Emancipation Garden". The Virgin Islands Daily News. January 7, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  7. "Gov. Bryan Declares State of Emergency, Cancels St. Patrick's Day Parade, Says Carnival 'Will Most Likely' Be Canceled in Response to Coronavirus Pandemic". VI Consortium. March 13, 2020.
  8. "Governor Bryan Scores High Marks from Voters on Handling of Covid-19 Virus". VI Tech Stack. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  9. "Bryan Announces Cancelation of In-Person School Classes for Remainder of School Year; 'Virtual' Ceremonies Planned For 2020 Graduates; Coronavirus Cases Rise to 45". VI Consortium. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  10. "Take the Covid Vaccine, Win $100,000: Bryan Announces Vaccine Lottery to Boost Numbers". VI Consortium. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  11. "Governor Tests Positive For COVID-19". St. Croix Source. April 20, 2022.
  12. "Governor Albert Bryan Jr". Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
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