United States House of Representatives election in American Samoa, 2008
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General elections were held in American Samoa on 4 November 2008 to elect a governor, members of the House of Representative, and a delegate to the United States House of Representatives, as well as a referendum on a legislative override of the governor's veto. The elections were held as part of the wider
2008 United States general election The 2008 United States elections were held on November 4. Democratic Senator Barack Obama of Illinois won the presidential election, by defeating his challenger, Senator John McCain and the Democrats bolstered their majority in both Houses of C ...
. In the gubernatorial election no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the first round, resulting in a
runoff election The two-round system (TRS), also known as runoff voting, second ballot, or ballotage, is a voting method used to elect a single candidate, where voters cast a single vote for their preferred candidate. It generally ensures a majoritarian resul ...
between the top two candidates on 18 November, which was won by the incumbent governor
Togiola Tulafono Togiola Talalelei A. Tulafono (born February 28, 1947) is an American Samoan politician and lawyer who served as the 6th Governor of American Samoa. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He had previously served as lieutenant governor, taking t ...
. Incumbent U.S. House delegate
Eni Faleomavaega Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin Faleomavaega Jr. (; August 15, 1943 – February 22, 2017) was an American Samoan politician and attorney who served as the territory's lieutenant governor (1985-1989) and non-voting delegate to the United States House of Repr ...
, who affiliates with the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...
was also re-elected.


Gubernatorial election


Background

Governor
Togiola Tulafono Togiola Talalelei A. Tulafono (born February 28, 1947) is an American Samoan politician and lawyer who served as the 6th Governor of American Samoa. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He had previously served as lieutenant governor, taking t ...
and
Lieutenant Governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...
Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia Faoa Aitofele Toese Fiti Sunia (born March 27, 1943), formerly known by the title of Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia, is an American Samoan lawyer and politician. Sunia has served as the Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa from April 11, 2003 to January 3 ...
announced their intent to seek re-election on 10 May 2008. Their formal announcement, which Tulafono called "the worst kept secret of this season," took place before a crowd of approximately three hundred supporters at the Tradewinds Hotel in Tafuna. Afoa Moega Lutu formally announced his own candidacy for Governor of American Samoa at a campaign rally at the same Tradewinds Hotel on 17 May. The rally consisted of about seven hundred Lutu supporters. Lutu promised to tackle a number of issues if elected governor, including
corruption Corruption is a form of dishonesty or a criminal offense which is undertaken by a person or an organization which is entrusted in a position of authority, in order to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one's personal gain. Corruption m ...
, rising food and energy prices and the economy.
Utu Abe Malae Utu Abe Malae (died October 2, 2018) was an American Samoan politician, banker and businessman. A long-time leader of the American Samoa Power Authority, he served in the American Samoa Senate, and was a candidate for Governor of American Samoa ...
and his running mate,
Nua Mailo Saoluaga Nua Mailo Saoluaga (born May 30, 1948) is an American Samoan politician. He served as the Speaker of the American Samoa House of Representatives from 1997 until 2002, and as a Senator from 2013 to 2021. Nua was a candidate for Lieutenant Gover ...
, formally announced their candidacy on 10 June at a gathering at the Maliu Mai Beach Resort in Pago Pago. This is not the first time that Tulafono and Lutu faced each other in a gubernatorial election. Tulafono defeated Lutu in the 2004 gubernatorial runoff election with 56 percent of the total vote to Lutu's 44 percent. Lutu also fell short in his bids for Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa in the 1996 and 2000 elections, losing both times to Tulafono. The President of the American Samoa Senate,
Lolo Moliga Lolo Letalu Matalasi (born August 12, 1947) is an American Samoan politician, educator, and businessman. He served as the 7th Governor of American Samoa, from 2013 to 2021. Early life and education Moliga was born in Taʻū, Manu'a, American ...
, also originally announced his intention to run for governor as well. However, Lolo withdrew from the race on 13 June, just two months into his campaign, citing existing commitments to his extended family
clan A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clans may claim descent from founding member or apical ancestor. Clans, in indigenous societies, tend to be endogamous, meaning ...
. He also noted the need to prevent divisiveness within the families of the Manu'a islands, where many of the gubernatorial and Lt. governor candidates have ancestral ties. Four of the 2008 candidates for governor or lieutenant governor in the 2008 election either were from or had ancestral ties to the Manu'a Islands. Those with Manu'a ancestry are incumbent Lt. Governor
Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia Faoa Aitofele Toese Fiti Sunia (born March 27, 1943), formerly known by the title of Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia, is an American Samoan lawyer and politician. Sunia has served as the Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa from April 11, 2003 to January 3 ...
, lieutenant governor candidate
Velega Savali Velega Savali Savali Jr. (born January 11, 1943) is an American Samoan politician. Savali was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa in the American Samoan gubernatorial election in 2008. He served as the American Samoa Treasurer ...
, and both members of the gubernatorial team of
Utu Abe Malae Utu Abe Malae (died October 2, 2018) was an American Samoan politician, banker and businessman. A long-time leader of the American Samoa Power Authority, he served in the American Samoa Senate, and was a candidate for Governor of American Samoa ...
and his running mate,
Nua Mailo Saoluaga Nua Mailo Saoluaga (born May 30, 1948) is an American Samoan politician. He served as the Speaker of the American Samoa House of Representatives from 1997 until 2002, and as a Senator from 2013 to 2021. Nua was a candidate for Lieutenant Gover ...
. The deadline to register as a candidate for governor in the current election was 1 September at 16:30. An official list of the four teams was released by the election office the following day.


Candidates

*
Togiola Tulafono Togiola Talalelei A. Tulafono (born February 28, 1947) is an American Samoan politician and lawyer who served as the 6th Governor of American Samoa. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He had previously served as lieutenant governor, taking t ...
– Incumbent
Governor of American Samoa This is a list of governors, etc. of the part of the Samoan Islands (now comprising American Samoa) under United States administration since 1900. From 1900 to 1978 governors were appointed by the Federal government of the United States. Since ...
, affiliated with the Democratic Party ** Running mate:
Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia Faoa Aitofele Toese Fiti Sunia (born March 27, 1943), formerly known by the title of Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia, is an American Samoan lawyer and politician. Sunia has served as the Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa from April 11, 2003 to January 3 ...
, Incumbent
Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa The government of American Samoa consists of a locally elected governor, lieutenant governor and the American Samoa Fono, which consists of an 18-member Senate and a 21-member House of Representatives. The first popular election for Governor and ...
* Afoa Moega Lutu – Former
Attorney General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...
of American Samoa, candidate for governor in 2004, affiliated with the Republican Party **Running mate:
Velega Savali Velega Savali Savali Jr. (born January 11, 1943) is an American Samoan politician. Savali was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa in the American Samoan gubernatorial election in 2008. He served as the American Samoa Treasurer ...
, former American Samoan Treasurer (2005–2008) *
Utu Abe Malae Utu Abe Malae (died October 2, 2018) was an American Samoan politician, banker and businessman. A long-time leader of the American Samoa Power Authority, he served in the American Samoa Senate, and was a candidate for Governor of American Samoa ...
– Former President of the
Development Bank of American Samoa Development or developing may refer to: Arts * Development hell, when a project is stuck in development *Filmmaking, development phase, including finance and budgeting *Development (music), the process thematic material is reshaped *Photograph ...
, affiliated with the Republican Party **Running mate:
Nua Mailo Saoluaga Nua Mailo Saoluaga (born May 30, 1948) is an American Samoan politician. He served as the Speaker of the American Samoa House of Representatives from 1997 until 2002, and as a Senator from 2013 to 2021. Nua was a candidate for Lieutenant Gover ...
, former Speaker of the American Samoa House of Representatives (1997–2002) *
Tuika Tuika Tuika Tuika is an American Samoan politician and former member of the American Samoa Fono. Tuika has worked as an accountant in the Territorial Audit Office and Tax office, as a teacher at the American Samoa Community College, and as a political s ...
Accountant An accountant is a practitioner of accounting or accountancy. Accountants who have demonstrated competency through their professional associations' certification exams are certified to use titles such as Chartered Accountant, Chartered Certifi ...
, affiliated with the Republican Party **Running mate:
Tee Masaniai Te’e Masaniai Jr. is an American Samoan politician and United States military retiree, Vietnam War veteran and Purple Heart recipient. Masaniai was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa in the 2008 gubernatorial election, as th ...
, United States military retiree All elections in American Samoa are officially non-partisan, but Tulafono and Sunia identify with the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...
.


House of Representatives

There were 54 candidates vying for the 20 elected seats in the American Samoa House of Representatives. All seats in the House are up for election in 2008. Every incumbent member of the House sought re-election, except for Gaoteote P. Gaoteote who is retiring. The only member who ran unopposed was Rep. Agaoleatu Charlie Tautolo.


U.S. House of Representatives

Ten term incumbent Delegate
Eni Faleomavaega Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin Faleomavaega Jr. (; August 15, 1943 – February 22, 2017) was an American Samoan politician and attorney who served as the territory's lieutenant governor (1985-1989) and non-voting delegate to the United States House of Repr ...
, a Democrat, sought an 11th term. He was challenged by Republican
Aumua Amata Coleman Amata Catherine Coleman Radewagen (born December 29, 1947), commonly called Aumua Amata , is an American Samoan politician who is the current delegate for the United States House of Representatives from American Samoa. Radewagen, a Republican, w ...
and Independent Rosie F. Tago Lancaster.


Referendum

A referendum to allow the legislative override of the governor's vetoes was also on the ballot. The American Samoa Fono passed the proposal giving itself the authority to override a veto by the
Governor of American Samoa This is a list of governors, etc. of the part of the Samoan Islands (now comprising American Samoa) under United States administration since 1900. From 1900 to 1978 governors were appointed by the Federal government of the United States. Since ...
. The proposal was then submitted to the Governor's office to be forwarded to the American Samoa election office as a referendum. The referendum will ask voters to agree to amend the
Constitution of American Samoa The Constitution of American Samoa is the constitution that defines the government of American Samoa. Unlike constitutions of a state, it is subject to unilateral change by the federal government. Constitutional documents of the territory include th ...
to give the Fono, rather than the United States Secretary of the Interior, the power to override a veto by the Governor. Currently, a veto can only be overridden by the United States Secretary of the Interior, who is based in Washington D.C. Any veto powers bestowed on the Fono would require a two-thirds majority in both the American Samoa House of Representatives and the American Samoa Senate before becoming law.


Results


Governor


U.S. House of Representatives


Referendum

The legislative over-ride proposal was defeated narrowly in the referendum, thereby maintaining the veto powers to the United States Secretary of the Interior.


References


External links


American Samoa Election Office
{{2008 U.S. elections Referendums in American Samoa 2008 ballot measures Elections in American Samoa American Samoa 2008 in American politics American Samoa gubernatorial elections American Samoa American Samoa United States House of Representatives elections in American Samoa Non-partisan elections