Governor of American Samoa
Tulafono was sworn in as the Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa under Governor Tauese Sunia on January 3,1997. [2] Sunia and Tulafono were re-elected in 2000 and sworn into their second terms in office on January 3,2001. [5]
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 sworn into office as Governor of American Samoa on April 7,2003. [2]
In the first round of elections 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 took part in endorsing 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. [6]
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. [7] [8] [9]
The dispute with Hawaiian Airlines
In July 2006,Governor Tulafono issued a mandate to Hawaiian Airlines,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. [10]
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. [11]
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. [12] The 2008 American Samoa gubernatorial election 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. [13]
Independence discussion
In 2012, both the Governor and American Samoa's delegate to the US Congress called for the populace to consider a move towards autonomy if not independence, to a mixed response. [14] [15]
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