Togiola Tulafono
Encyclopedia
Togiola Talalelei A. Tulafono (born February 28, 1947) is the Governor
of American Samoa
. He is a member of the Democratic Party
. He had previously served as Lieutenant Governor
, taking this position on January 3, 1997.
Tulafono was Lieutenant Governor when, on March 26, 2003, Governor Tauese Pita Fiti Sunia died. He then became Acting Governor
, and officially became Governor on April 7, 2003. He was reelected to a full 4-year term in the November 2004 gubernatorial elections
and again in the November 2008 gubernatorial election
.
.
Tulafono was educated in Samoa, attending elementary school
in Autu'u and Samoana High School.
He attended Chadron State College
in the United States
, where he earned bachelor's degrees in both political science
and sociology
in 1970. He received a doctor of laws degree from the Washburn University School of Law
in Topeka, Kansas
, in 1975.
He has served as a deacon
of the Congregational Christian Church in Sa’ilele, American Samoa, for over 25 years.
's Office and as an administrative assistant for the Secretary of Samoan Affairs. He spent two years each working as a private practice attorney
and as a vice president for South Pacific Island Airways
during the late 1970s.
Tulafono was appointed as a district court
judge
in 1978 and then to the American Samoa Senate
in 1980. After serving one term in the upper house for Saole County, he reentered law practice, but then ran again successfully for a Senate seat in 1989. However, he was later elected to the American Samoa Senate
for Sua County for eight years. He also chaired the board of directors
for the American Samoa Power Authority
and was the first chairman of the Board of Higher Education.
Tulafono further chaired the South Pacific Mini Games committee in 1997 when American Samoa hosted the games. He later chaired the American Samoa Centennial Committee in 2000, which was formed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of American Samoa becoming a territorial possession of the United States.
He presently serves as vice chairman of the territorial church general assembly of American Samoa as of 2008.
under Governor Tauese Sunia
on January 3, 1997. Sunia and Tulafono were re-elected in 2000 and sworn into their second terms in office on January 3, 2001.
Tulafono remained lieutenant governor until Sunia's sudden death from a heart attack on March 26, 2003. Tulafono became acting governor
until he was formally swown into office as Governor of American Samoa on April 7, 2003.
In the first round of election
s on November 2, 2004, Tulafono received 48.4% of the vote. In the second round on November 16, Tulafono defeated Afoa Moega Lutu
, who had run against him for the position of Lieutenant Governor in 2000, by a vote of 56%-44%. As Governor, Tulafano is a member of the National Governors Association
and the Democratic Governors Association
.
Tulafono endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton for President of the United States
during the 2008 presidential primaries
and the American Samoa Democratic caucuses, 2008
and became the national co-chair of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for Hillary.
It was under Tulafono's leadership that American Samoa became, in November 2011, a founding member of the Polynesian Leaders Group
, a regional grouping intended to cooperate on a variety of issues including culture and language, education, responses to climate change, and trade and investment.
, giving the airline ninety days to cease service to Pago Pago International Airport
in Pago Pago. The carrier, which offers the only service to American Samoa (beside commuter flights to Apia, in the country of Samoa
), from its hub in Honolulu, was accused of predatory pricing practices and ethnic harassment by the governor.
In August 2006, the FAA stated in an official letter to the governor that the territory must continue to allow Hawaiian Airlines to fly the Honolulu-Pago Pago route or risk losing U.S. financial assistance.
took place on November 4, 2008. Governor Tulafono and Lieutenant Governor Sunia received 41.1% of the vote, challengers Utu Abe Malae
and Nua Mailo Saoluaga received 31.4%, and Afoa Leulumoega Lutu and Velega Savali received 26.8 percent. Because no candidate exceeded 50% of the vote, a runoff election was held between the top two candidates, Tulafono and Utu Abe Malae on November 18, 2008, which Tulafono won.
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
. He is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. He had previously served as Lieutenant Governor
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 Lieutenant Governor took place in 1977...
, taking this position on January 3, 1997.
Tulafono was Lieutenant Governor when, on March 26, 2003, Governor Tauese Pita Fiti Sunia died. He then became Acting Governor
Acting governor
An acting governor is a constitutional position created in some U.S. states when the governor dies in office or resigns. In some states, the governor may also be declared to be incapacitated and unable to function for various reasons, including illness and absence from the state for more than a...
, and officially became Governor on April 7, 2003. He was reelected to a full 4-year term in the November 2004 gubernatorial elections
American Samoan general election, 2004
General elections were held in American Samoa on 2 November 2004. A second round of the election for Governor was held on 16 November.- External links :*...
and again in the November 2008 gubernatorial election
American Samoa gubernatorial election, 2008
The 2008 American Samoa gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2008, coinciding with the 2008 United States general elections and the American Samoa general election. Because no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election between the top two candidates was held on...
.
Early life
Togiola T.A. Tulafono was born on February 28, 1947, in Aunu'u Island, American SamoaAmerican Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
.
Tulafono was educated in Samoa, attending elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
in Autu'u and Samoana High School.
He attended Chadron State College
Chadron State College
Chadron State College is a four-year public college in the Nebraska State College System in Chadron, Nebraska. The college is located in the northern part of the Nebraska Panhandle, in the Pine Ridge area....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he earned bachelor's degrees in both political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
in 1970. He received a doctor of laws degree from the Washburn University School of Law
Washburn University
Washburn University is a co-educational, public institution of higher learning in Topeka, Kansas, USA. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and business. Washburn has 550 faculty members, who teach more than 6,400 undergraduate students and...
in Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
, in 1975.
He has served as a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
of the Congregational Christian Church in Sa’ilele, American Samoa, for over 25 years.
Career
After college, Tulafono worked as a legal assistant at American Samoa's Attorney GeneralAttorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
's Office and as an administrative assistant for the Secretary of Samoan Affairs. He spent two years each working as a private practice attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and as a vice president for South Pacific Island Airways
South Pacific Island Airways
South Pacific Island Airways was an airline operating services in and around American Samoa from the early 1970s. The Federal Aviation Administration grounded the carrier in 1984, when it almost flew a charter flight into the airspace of the Soviet Union...
during the late 1970s.
Tulafono was appointed as a district court
District court
District courts are a category of courts which exists in several nations. These include:-Australia:District Court is the name given to the intermediate court in most Australian States. They hear indictable criminal offences excluding treason, murder and, in some States, manslaughter...
judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
in 1978 and then to the American Samoa Senate
American Samoa Senate
The American Samoa Senate is the upper house of the American Samoa Fono. The Senate, like the lower House of Representatives, is a nonpartisan body. It is composed of 18 senators, serving a four-year term.-List of Senators:* Utu Abe Malae...
in 1980. After serving one term in the upper house for Saole County, he reentered law practice, but then ran again successfully for a Senate seat in 1989. However, he was later elected to the American Samoa Senate
American Samoa Senate
The American Samoa Senate is the upper house of the American Samoa Fono. The Senate, like the lower House of Representatives, is a nonpartisan body. It is composed of 18 senators, serving a four-year term.-List of Senators:* Utu Abe Malae...
for Sua County for eight years. He also chaired the board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
for the American Samoa Power Authority
American Samoa Power Authority
The American Samoa Power Authority is a government-run public utility company headquartered in American Samoa.The American Samoa Senate proposed the dissolution of the ASPA in 2008 due to financial difficulties. Under the bill, the ASPA would be dissolved and its assets and operations would be...
and was the first chairman of the Board of Higher Education.
Tulafono further chaired the South Pacific Mini Games committee in 1997 when American Samoa hosted the games. He later chaired the American Samoa Centennial Committee in 2000, which was formed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of American Samoa becoming a territorial possession of the United States.
He presently serves as vice chairman of the territorial church general assembly of American Samoa as of 2008.
Governor of American Samoa
Tulafono was sworn in as the Lieutenant Governor of American SamoaLieutenant 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 Lieutenant Governor took place in 1977...
under Governor Tauese Sunia
Tauese Sunia
Tauese Tuailemafua Pita Fiti Sunia was the governor of American Samoa from 1997 until his death. He died during his second term, on March 26, 2003, while on a flight to Hawaii for medical treatment....
on January 3, 1997. Sunia and Tulafono were re-elected in 2000 and sworn into their second terms in office on January 3, 2001.
Tulafono remained lieutenant governor until Sunia's sudden death from a heart attack on March 26, 2003. Tulafono became acting governor
Acting governor
An acting governor is a constitutional position created in some U.S. states when the governor dies in office or resigns. In some states, the governor may also be declared to be incapacitated and unable to function for various reasons, including illness and absence from the state for more than a...
until he was formally swown into office as Governor of American Samoa on April 7, 2003.
In the first round of election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
s on November 2, 2004, Tulafono received 48.4% of the vote. In the second round on November 16, Tulafono defeated Afoa Moega Lutu
Afoa Moega Lutu
Afoafouvale Leulumoegafou Su’esu’e Lutu is an American Samoan politician and lawyer. Lutu has served as the former American Samoan Attorney General.Lutu was defeated in the 2004 gubernatorial election by Togiola Tulafono...
, who had run against him for the position of Lieutenant Governor in 2000, by a vote of 56%-44%. As Governor, Tulafano is a member of the National Governors Association
National Governors Association
The National Governors Association , founded in 1908 as the National Governors' Conference, is funded primarily by state dues, federal grants and contracts and private contributions. NGA represents the governors of the fifty U.S. states and five U.S. territories The National Governors Association...
and the Democratic Governors Association
Democratic Governors Association
The Democratic Governors Association is a Washington, D.C. based 527 organization founded in 1983, consisting of U.S. state and territorial governors affiliated with the Democratic Party. The mission of the organization is to provide party support to the election and re-election of Democratic...
.
Tulafono endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
during the 2008 presidential primaries
Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008
The 2008 Democratic presidential primaries were the selection process by which voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for President of the United States in the 2008 U.S. presidential election...
and the American Samoa Democratic caucuses, 2008
American Samoa Democratic caucuses, 2008
The American Samoa Democratic caucuses, 2008 took place on February 5, 2008, also known as Super Tuesday. Caucusing began at 11:00 am local time. The early time ensured that results would be reported that evening in the mainland United States. Hillary Clinton won the caucus, the smallest of Super...
and became the national co-chair of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for Hillary.
It was under Tulafono's leadership that American Samoa became, in November 2011, a founding member of the Polynesian Leaders Group
Polynesian Leaders Group
The Polynesian Leaders Group is an international governmental cooperation group bringing together eight independent or self-governing countries or territories in Polynesia....
, a regional grouping intended to cooperate on a variety of issues including culture and language, education, responses to climate change, and trade and investment.
The dispute with Hawaiian Airlines
In July 2006, Governor Tulafono issued a mandate to Hawaiian AirlinesHawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a major airline of the United States. It is the largest airline based in the State of Hawai'i, and is the 11th largest commercial airline in the country. Based in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, the airline operates its main hub at Honolulu International...
, giving the airline ninety days to cease service to Pago Pago International Airport
Pago Pago International Airport
Pago Pago International Airport , also referred to as Tafuna Airport , Tafuna Airfield, Tafuna Airbase or Pago Pago International with airport designation PPG is a public airport located seven miles southwest of the central business district of Pago Pago, in the village and plains of Tafuna on...
in Pago Pago. The carrier, which offers the only service to American Samoa (beside commuter flights to Apia, in the country of Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
), from its hub in Honolulu, was accused of predatory pricing practices and ethnic harassment by the governor.
In August 2006, the FAA stated in an official letter to the governor that the territory must continue to allow Hawaiian Airlines to fly the Honolulu-Pago Pago route or risk losing U.S. financial assistance.
2008 Gubernatorial election
Governor Togiola Tulafono and Lieutenant Governor Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia announced their joint reelection campaign on May 10, 2008, at the Tradewinds Hotel in Tafuna. The 2008 American Samoa gubernatorial electionAmerican Samoa gubernatorial election, 2008
The 2008 American Samoa gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2008, coinciding with the 2008 United States general elections and the American Samoa general election. Because no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election between the top two candidates was held on...
took place on November 4, 2008. Governor Tulafono and Lieutenant Governor Sunia received 41.1% of the vote, challengers Utu Abe Malae
Utu Abe Malae
Utu Abe Malae is an American Samoan politician, banker and businessman. Malae was a candidate for Governor of American Samoa in the 2008 gubernatorial elections, finishing second in the runoff to incumbent Governor Togiola Tulafono....
and Nua Mailo Saoluaga received 31.4%, and Afoa Leulumoega Lutu and Velega Savali received 26.8 percent. Because no candidate exceeded 50% of the vote, a runoff election was held between the top two candidates, Tulafono and Utu Abe Malae on November 18, 2008, which Tulafono won.
External links
- Official website
- Samoa Observer: Inauguation celebration described as “makua seki lava!”
- Samoa Observer:Togiola admin theme: “Light tomorrow with today”
- Samoa Observer: All of American Samoa invited to inauguration festivities '
- Samoa News: Governor thanks public for vote of confidence and promises to be worthy of trust and support