2008 American Samoan general election

Last updated

2008 American Samoan general election
Flag of American Samoa.svg
Gubernatorial election
←  2004 4 November 2008 (first round)
18 November 2008 (second round)		 2012  →
  Togiola Tulafono.jpg Utu Abe Malae.jpg
Nominee Togiola Tulafono Utu Abe Malae
Running mate Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia Nua Mailo Saoluaga
Popular vote6,5905,084
Percentage56.45%43.55%
Governor before election

Togiola Tulafono

Elected Governor

Togiola Tulafono

U.S. House delegate election
←  2006 4 November 2008 2010  →
  Congressman Eni Faleomavaega.jpg Aumua Amata Radewagen congressional photo.jpg
Candidate Eni Faleomavaega Amata Coleman Radewagen
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote7,4984,349
Percentage60.38%35.02%
Delegate before election

Eni Faleomavaega
Democratic

Elected Delegate

Eni Faleomavaega
Democratic

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.

Contents

In the gubernatorial election no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the first round, resulting in a runoff election between the top two candidates on 18 November, which was won by the incumbent governor Togiola Tulafono. [1]

Incumbent U.S. House delegate Eni Faleomavaega, who affiliates with the Democratic Party was also re-elected.

Gubernatorial election

Background

Governor Togiola Tulafono and Lieutenant Governor Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia announced their intent to seek re-election on 10 May 2008. [2] 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. [2]

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. [3] The rally consisted of about seven hundred Lutu supporters. [3] Lutu promised to tackle a number of issues if elected governor, including corruption, rising food and energy prices and the economy. [3]

Utu Abe Malae and his running mate, Nua Mailo Saoluaga, formally announced their candidacy on 10 June at a gathering at the Maliu Mai Beach Resort in Pago Pago. [4]

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. [3] Lutu also fell short in his bids for Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa in the 1996 and 2000 elections, losing both times to Tulafono. [5]

The President of the American Samoa Senate, Lolo Moliga, 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. [6] 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. [6]

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. [6] Those with Manu'a ancestry are incumbent Lt. Governor Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia, lieutenant governor candidate Velega Savali, and both members of the gubernatorial team of Utu Abe Malae and his running mate, Nua Mailo Saoluaga. [6]

The deadline to register as a candidate for governor in the current election was 1 September at 16:30. [6] An official list of the four teams was released by the election office the following day. [7]

Candidates

All elections in American Samoa are officially non-partisan, but Tulafono and Sunia identify with the Democratic Party. [11]

House of Representatives

There were 54 candidates vying for the 20 elected seats in the American Samoa House of Representatives. [12] 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. [12] The only member who ran unopposed was Rep. Agaoleatu Charlie Tautolo. [12]

U.S. House of Representatives

Ten term incumbent Delegate Eni Faleomavaega, a Democrat, sought an 11th term. [13] He was challenged by Republican Aumua Amata Coleman and Independent Rosie F. Tago Lancaster. [14]

Referendum

A referendum to allow the legislative override of the governor's vetoes was also on the ballot. [15]

The American Samoa Fono passed the proposal giving itself the authority to override a veto by the Governor of American Samoa. [15] The proposal was then submitted to the Governor's office to be forwarded to the American Samoa election office as a referendum. [15] The referendum will ask voters to agree to amend the Constitution of American Samoa to give the Fono, rather than the United States Secretary of the Interior, the power to override a veto by the Governor. [15]

Currently, a veto can only be overridden by the United States Secretary of the Interior, who is based in Washington D.C. [15] 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. [15]

Results

Governor

CandidateRunning mateFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Togiola Tulafono Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia 5,11741.246,59056.45
Utu Abe Malae Nua Mailo Saoluaga 3,88131.285,08443.55
Afoa Moega Lutu Velega Savali 3,34726.97
Tuika Tuika Tee Masaniai 630.51
Total12,408100.0011,674100.00
Source: [16] [17]

U.S. House of Representatives

CandidatePartyVotes%
Eni Faleomavaega Democratic Party 7,49860.38
Amata Coleman Radewagen Republican Party 4,34935.02
Rosie Tago LancasterIndependent5704.59
Total12,417100.00
Source: Election Office

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. [15]

ChoiceVotes%
For6,13749.91
Against6,15950.09
Total12,296100.00
Source: Election Office

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Togiola Tulafono</span>

Togiola Talalelei A. Tulafono is an American Samoan politician and lawyer who served as the sixth governor of American Samoa. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He had previously served as the seventh lieutenant governor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 4, 2008, in 11 states and two territories. Prior to the election, eight of the total seats were held by Democrats and five by Republicans. Two governors were prohibited by term limits from seeking re-election in 2008. The only governorship to change party was the open seat in Missouri, which was won by a Democrat after being previously held by a Republican.

Asuemu Ulufale Fuimaono was an American Samoan politician and Paramount Chief who served as American Samoa's first Delegate-at-Large to the United States House of Representatives in a four-year term from 1971 until 1975. Fuimaono also served as the Governor of Western District, American Samoa on the island of Tutuila from his appointment in 1993 until his death in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faoa Aitofele Sunia</span>

Faoa Aitofele Toese Fiti Sunia, formerly known by the title of Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia, is an American Samoan lawyer and politician. Sunia has served as the eighth lieutenant governor of American Samoa from April 11, 2003 to January 3, 2013.

Velega Savali Savali Jr. 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 from 2005 until 2008, and a senator from 2009 to 2012.

Afoafouvale Leulumoegafou Suʻesuʻe Lutu is an American Samoan politician and attorney. Lutu has served as the former attorney general of American Samoa in two different administrations. He is also a former senator from the district of Maʻopūtasi, serving the villages of Fagatogo, Utulei and Fagaʻalu. He is the current holder of the high chief title, Afoafouvale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Utu Abe Malae</span>

Utu Abe Malae 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 in the 2008 gubernatorial elections, finishing second in the runoff to incumbent Governor Togiola Tulafono.

Nua Mailo Saoluaga 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

United States gubernatorial elections were held in 12 states and two territories. Of the eight Democratic and four Republican seats contested, only that of North Carolina changed party hands, giving the Republicans a net gain of one governorship. These elections coincided with the presidential election on November 6, 2012.

Tuanaitau Fa'atamala Tuia was an American Samoan politician and the longest-serving member of the American Samoan territorial legislature, the Fono, in history. Tuia served a combined 49 years in the Fono, including thirty years in the American Samoa House of Representatives and seventeen years in the Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 American Samoan constitutional referendum</span> American Samoan ballot measure

A constitutional referendum was held in American Samoa on November 2, 2010, on the same day of the United States House of Representatives election and American Samoan general election.

Tufele Faatoia Liamatua, also spelled Tufele Li'amatua, was an American Samoan politician, businessman and paramount chief. He served as the first elected lieutenant governor of American Samoa under former Governor Peter Tali Coleman from 1978 to 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 American Samoan general election</span>

General elections were held in American Samoa on 6 November 2012 to elect a new governor and lieutenant governor, twenty members of the American Samoa House of Representatives and the Delegate to United States House of Representatives. Incumbent governor Togiola Tulafono was term-limited and could not seek re-election.

Seui Laau was an American Samoan politician and Senator. Laau was the chairman of the American Samoa Senate Government Operations Committee at the time of his death in 2012.

Save Liuato Afa Tuitele (born ?) is an American Samoan retired judge and politician. He was one of six candidates for Governor of American Samoa in the 2012 gubernatorial election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lolo Matalasi Moliga</span> American Samoan politician and governor

Lolo Letalu Matalasi is an American Samoan politician, educator, and businessman. He served as the seventh governor of American Samoa, from 2013 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 American Samoa gubernatorial election</span>

The 2016 American Samoa gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2016, coinciding with the 2016 United States presidential elections and other US elections.

The Attorney General of American Samoa is the chief law enforcement officer and chief legal advisor to the American Samoa Government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 American Samoa gubernatorial election</span>

The 2020 American Samoa gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2020, coinciding with the 2020 United States presidential elections and other United States elections. Incumbent Governor of American Samoa Lolo Matalasi Moliga was not eligible for reelection due to term limits. In American Samoa, gubernatorial candidates run on a non-partisan basis and as a slate together with their Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa candidate.

Tapumanaia Galu Satele Jr. is an American politician, educator, and government administrator who served as a member of the American Samoa House of Representatives from 2008 to 2012. After leaving the American Samoa Fono, Satele has served in several cabinet positions in the Government of American Samoa.

References

  1. ↑ "Absentee voting in American Samoa run-off election underway". Radio New Zealand International . 2008-11-13. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
  2. 1 2 Sagapolutele, Fili (2008-05-11). "Togiola, Ipulasi Announce Re-election Bid". Pacific Magazine . Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Sagapolutele, Fili (2008-05-20). "Afoa Criticizes Government's 'Damaged Reputation'". Pacific Magazine . Retrieved 2008-10-19.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. ↑ Sagapolutele, Fili (2008-06-10). "Utu Abe Malae Officially Declares Run For Governor". Pacific Magazine . Retrieved 2008-10-22.[ permanent dead link ]
  5. 1 2 "People Briefs". Pacific Magazine . 2004-05-01. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Sagapolutele, Fili (2008-06-13). "Senate President Lolo Moliga Withdraws From Gubernatorial Race". Pacific Magazine . Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  7. ↑ Sagapolutele, Fili (2008-09-02). "Official list for General Election 2008 released". Samoa News . Retrieved 2008-10-20.[ dead link ]
  8. ↑ Sagapolutele, Fili (2008-06-01). "Development Bank President Resigns Ahead Of Possible Gubernatorial Race". Pacific Magazine . Retrieved 2008-10-21.[ permanent dead link ]
  9. ↑ "Former banker announces candidacy for American Samoa Governorship". RNZ. 10 June 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  10. 1 2 "Gov candidates split on how the Delegate serves". Samoa News . 2008-10-17. Retrieved 2008-10-19.[ dead link ]
  11. ↑ "American Samoa 2008 General Election". The Green Papers. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
  12. 1 2 3 Sagapolutele, Fili (2008-09-02). "Official list for General Election 2008 released". Samoa News . Retrieved 2008-10-20.[ dead link ]
  13. ↑ "American Samoa's member of US Congress to seek re-election next year". Radio New Zealand . 10 November 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  14. ↑ "The Green Papers: American Samoa 2008 General Election". The Green Papers. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Veto over-ride to go to a referendum in American Samoa". Radio New Zealand . 8 September 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  16. ↑ "UNOFFICIAL RESULTS GENERAL ELECTION 2008: GOVERNOR & LT. GOVERNOR NOVEMBER 4, 2008". American Samoa Government Election Office. Archived from the original on 26 November 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2008.
  17. ↑ "American Samoa Gov. Togiola Cruises To Re-Election Victory". PacNews. 20 November 2008 – via Gale OneFile.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.