2012 American Samoa gubernatorial election

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2012 American Samoa gubernatorial election
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  Lolo Moliga by James Kneubuhl.jpg Ipulasi Aitofele Sunias speaking (cropped).jpg
Nominee Lolo Matalasi Moliga Faoa Aitofele Sunia
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Alliance Democratic
Running mate Lemanu Peleti Mauga Taufete'e John Faumuina, Jr.
Popular vote 6,645 5,908
Percentage 52.9% 47.1%
Governor before election

Togiola Tulafono
Nonpartisan

Elected Governor

Lolo Letalu Matalasi Moliga
Nonpartisan

The 2012 American Samoa gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2012, for the open gubernatorial seat of American Samoa. The election coincides with the larger United States presidential elections, United States general elections and the American Samoa general election. Since no candidate received a majority of the vote on November 6, a runoff election was held on Tuesday, November 20, 2012, which was won by Independent candidate Lolo Letalu Matalasi Moliga.

Six candidates sought election as the next Governor of American Samoa in 2012.[1] Governor Togiola Tulafono was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term.[1]

Election background[]

Outgoing Governor Tulafono was term-limited.

The incumbent, Governor Togiola Tulafono, who had held office since 2003, was term-limited and could not seek re-election.[1] Tulafono, who took office after the death of former governor Tauese Sunia, was elected to his first four-year term in 2004 and re-elected in the 2008 gubernatorial election.[2]

All elections and candidates in American Samoa are nonpartisan, though Faoa Aitofele Sunia is affiliated with the Democratic Party. Slightly less than 17,000 American Samoans were eligible to vote in the 2012 election.[3]

Candidates[]

Six candidates ran for the office of Governor of American Samoa.[1]

  • Salu Hunkin-Finau, educator and former president of the American Samoa Community College; only female candidate for governor[4]
    • Running mate: , retired Command Sergeant Major in the United States Army of 36 years[5]
  • Timothy Jones, engineer
    • Running mate: Tuika Tuika, government official and candidate for governor in 2008[6]
  • Afoa Moega Lutu, High Chief of Utulei, former Attorney General, and candidate for governor in 2008, affiliated with the Republican Party
    • Running mate: Le'i Sonny Thompson, director of the Department of Administrative Services[7]
  • Lolo Letalu Matalasi Moliga, president of the Development Bank of American Samoa
    • Running mate: Lemanu Peleti Mauga, territorial Senator[8][9]
  • Faoa Aitofele Sunia, Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa since 2003, affiliated with the Democratic Party
    • Running mate: Taufete'e John Faumuina, Jr., former director of economic development[10][11]
  • Save Liuato Afa Tuitele, former judge of the High Court of American Samoa
    • Running mate: Tofoitaufa , founder and CEO of the Pacific Islands Center for Educational Development[12]

Withdrew[]

  • Utu Abe Malae, director of the Northern Marianas Commonwealth Utility Corporation and second placed candidate in 2008 gubernatorial election; announced candidacy on August 15, 2011, withdrew on October 10, 2011.[13][14] He is affiliated with the Libertarian Party.

Controversy[]

The gubernatorial ticket of Save Liuato Tuitele and Sandra King Young filed a petition in September 2012 against four other campaigns questioning their eligibility to run in the election.[15] Tuitele and Young argued that the other four candidates had not resigned from their government jobs before beginning their political campaigns, as required by law.[15] The four candidates challenged by the Tuitele campaign were gubernatorial candidates Lolo Letalu Matalasi Moliga and Salu Hunkin-Finau, as well as lieutenant governor candidates and .[16]

The case was heard by the High Court of American Samoa,[15] which turned down the petition allowing all candidates to remain in the election.[17]

Endorsements[]

Outgoing Governor Togiola Tulafono endorsed his lieutenant governor, Faoa Aitofele Sunia, for governor in the six-way election.[18]

Election results[]

Election results, Governor of American Samoa, November 6, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Lolo Letalu Matalasi Moliga 4,372 33.5
Nonpartisan Faoa Aitofele Sunia 4,315 33.1
Nonpartisan Afoa Moega Lutu 2,521 19.3
Nonpartisan Salu Hunkin-Finau 893 6.8
Nonpartisan Save Liuato Tuitele 763 5.8
Nonpartisan Timothy Jones 189 1.4
Total votes 13,053 100

Due to no candidate receiving more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election was held.

Runoff election results, Governor of American Samoa, November 20, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Lolo Letalu Matalasi Moliga 6,645 52.9
Nonpartisan Faoa Aitofele Sunia 5,908 47.1
Total votes 12,553 100

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d "6 candidates vie to be American Samoa's governor". Real Clear Politics. Associated Press. 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
  2. ^ "2012 Gubernatorial Elections" (PDF). National Governors Association. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
  3. ^ "American Samoa officials ready for next week's election". Radio New Zealand International. 2012-10-30. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
  4. ^ Sagapolutele, Fili (2012-01-23). "Female Educator Enters Race For American Samoa Governor". Samoa News. East-West Center. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  5. ^ Montgemery, Nancy (2012-09-02). "After 37 years in uniform, Army veteran turns eye to politics". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
  6. ^ Feagaimaalii-Luamanu, Joyetter (2012-09-04). "Who's on the ballot?". . Archived from the original on 2013-10-30. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
  7. ^ Feagaimaalii-Luamanu, Joyetter (2012-02-22). "Afoa and Le'i Officially Enter 2012 Gubernatorial Race". Samoa News. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
  8. ^ Sagapolutele, Fili (2011-10-19). "Lolo and Lemanu declare their candidacy for governor and lt. governor in the 2012 general election". Samoa News. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  9. ^ "Former President of American Samoa Senate enters gubernatorial race". RNZ. 21 October 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Lt. Gov. Faoa Aitofele Sunia and Taufete'e John Faumuina officially announce their candidacy". Samoa News. 2011-11-22. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  11. ^ "American Samoa's Lt Governor vies top job in next year's election". Radio New Zealand International. 2011-10-22. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  12. ^ "Save picks woman as American Samoa co-candidate". RNZ. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  13. ^ Deposa, Moneth (2011-08-24). "CUC to lose its executive director, Malae announces election bid for A. Samoa governor". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  14. ^ "American Samoa governor candidate withdraws from race". RNZ. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  15. ^ a b c "Court in American Samoa to hear appeal against election officer's decision". Radio New Zealand International. 2012-09-16. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
  16. ^ "Four candidates in American Samoa's gubernatorial race challenged". Radio New Zealand International. 2012-01-23. Retrieved 2012-11-04.
  17. ^ Sagapolutele, Fili (2012-09-21). "Team Save-Sandra hope in future elections law obeyed". Samoa News. Archived from the original on 2013-10-23. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  18. ^ Sagapolutele, Fili (2012-11-01). "Governor endorses Faoa — Save & Sandra announce policy challenges; Togiola Endorses Team Faoa And Taufetee During Final Campaign Event". Samoa News. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2012-11-03.

External links[]

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