Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr. epitomizes dedicated and homegrown leadership, having cultivated his skills over three decades of service to the people of the Virgin Islands. His commitment to servant-leadership experience has been consistently recognized by his peers at the Legislature of the United States Virgin Islands, who elected him President of the 35th Legislature. He has also been honored to serve as the Vice-President of the 34th Legislature and President of the 33rd Legislature. Humbled by the voters’ confidence in his record, Sen. Francis is honored to serve a sixth consecutive term representing the district of St. Croix and the Virgin Islands community.
Known for his practical and realistic approach to governance, Novelle’s efforts are deeply informed by his diverse background: a public-school graduate, his studies at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, a career in law enforcement, his experiences as a parent, and his years as a small business owner. His legislative initiatives reflect a tireless dedication to addressing the quality-of-life issues impacting all Virgin Islanders, irrespective of race, education or socioeconomic status. Since taking office in January 2015, Senator Francis has passed significant legislation, including:
- probate reform (Act 8023)
- dedicated funding for agriculture (Act 8259).
- creation of the St. Croix South Shore Trade Zone (Act 8376);
- expansion of the public-school curriculum to require civic courses for all public high school students (Act 7934);
- comprehensive reform of behavioral healthcare (Act 8688); and
- integration of Fire and Emergency Medical Services (Act 8545).
These initiatives stand as enduring testaments to his commitment to the economic, educational futures and social well-being of the territory.
Novelle’s senate leadership is shaped by his extensive law enforcement career, where the collection and analysis of information and evidence gathering were vital to solving cases. He brings this methodical approach to Senate committees – asking probing and insightful questions to ensure through oversight of agencies and persons appearing before the Senate. A leader in the Senate, he has chaired numerous committees, including the Committee on Health, Hospitals and Human Services, the Committee on Rules & Judiciary, and the Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety. He has also served as the Vice-Chair of the Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance.
Looking ahead, Senator Francis is committed to continuing his work on interrelated priorities, including probate reform, managing distressed properties, and advancing initiatives in economic development, education, senior care and healthcare.
Novelle is happily married to Avril Johnson Francis and is a proud father, brother, uncle and nephew, cherishing the bonds of his extensive family circle.’
