USVI gubernatorial candidate Allison “Allie” Petrus on Saturday announced his running mate for the Democratic primary election – Sen. Sammuel Sanes.
Sanes is currently serving his fifth terms senator in the USVI Legislature, having first being elected in 2008. At Saturday’s event at the La Reine Chicken Shack on St. Croix, Sanes thanked his supporters and Petrus for tapping him to run for lieutenant governor.
“It is a tremendous honor, and I thank Allie for the opportunity to continue to serve all of the people of our Virgin Islands,” Sanes said.
Petrus served in the Senate in the 1990s and is now a St. Thomas businessman.
The pair, who are seeking the Democratic Party nomination, said they hope to develop a new era of leadership, unveiling their campaign slogan, “A Government that Works for You – the People of the Virgin Islands.”
Sanes said government needs leaders who were willing to work together with others, not alienate them.
Petrus said when he asked Sanes to join the ticket, he asked him to do so as a dedicated partner, working together, side-by-side to tackle the very real challenges facing the Islands today.
Petrus said the administration of Gov. Kenneth Mapp has defaulted on many important constituencies, pointing to the fact that the government owes $40 million to the GERS system for Virgin Islands retirees.
Both candidates spoke of their humble upbringings and their ability, through hard work and the support of their families, to not only pull themselves up but to also pull up those around them.
They said they look forward to speaking face-to-face with voters, taking their message directly to neighborhood communities in the upcoming months.
Petrus is one of what is expected to be healthy list of candidates challenigng Mapp for governor. The filing deadline is in March.
