2008 American Samoan general election

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General elections was held in American Samoa on 4 November 2008, coinciding with the 2008 United States general elections.

Gubernatorial election[]

Main article: American Samoa gubernatorial election, 2008

Incumbent governor Togiola Tulafono sought re-election. The gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2008.

U.S. Congressional election[]

Main article: United States House of Representatives election in American Samoa, 2008

Ten term incumbent Delegate Eni Faleomavaega, a Democrat, sought an 11th term.[1] He was challenged by Republican Aumua Amata Coleman and Independent .[2]

American Samoa House of Representatives election[]

Main article:

There were 54 candidates vying for the 20 elected seats in the American Samoa House of Representatives.[2] All seats in the House are up for election in 2008. Every incumbent member of the House sought re-election, except for who is retiring.[2] The only member who ran unopposed was Rep. .[2]

District 1 Tau District 2 Ofu/ Olosega District 3 Vaifanua
Mapu Puaopea F. Paopao 260 Faafetai Iaulualo 340 Meleagi Suitona Chapman 79
Aloalii Maui 294 Fetui Fetui Jr. 360

Referendum[]

A referendum to allow the legislative override of the governor’s vetoes was on the ballot on November 4, 2008.[3]

The American Samoa Fono passed the proposal giving itself the authority to override a veto by the Governor of American Samoa.[3] The proposal was then submitted to the Governor's office to be forwarded to the American Samoa election office as a referendum.[3] 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.[3]

Currently, a veto can only be overridden by the United States Secretary of the Interior, who is based in Washington D.C.[3] 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.[3]

Results[]

The legislative over-ride proposal was defeated narrowly in the referendum, thereby maintaining the veto powers to the United States Secretary of the Interior.[3]

Summary of the 4 November 2008 American Samoan legislative override referendum results
Choice Votes %
No 6,159 50.1
Yes 6,137 49.9
Total valid votes 12,296 100.0
Source: American Samoa Election Office

References[]

  1. ^ "American Samoa's member of US Congress to seek re-election next year". Radio New Zealand. 10 November 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Sagapolutele, Fili (2008-09-02). "Official list for General Election 2008 released". Samoa News. Retrieved 2008-10-20.[dead link]
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Veto over-ride to go to a referendum in American Samoa". Radio New Zealand. 8 September 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2021.

External links[]

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