2012 American Samoan general election
Politics of American Samoa |
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General elections were held in American Samoa on 6 November 2012,[1] alongside a referendum on giving the Fono veto power over the governor. Voters chose a new governor and lieutenant governor, twenty members for the American Samoa House of Representatives, and the Delegate to United States House of Representatives.[2] Incumbent governor Togiola Tulafono was term-limited and could not seek re-election.
Gubernatorial election[]
Candidates[]
- Salu Hunkin-Finau, educator and former president of the American Samoa Community College. Only female candidate for governor.[3]
- Running mate: Iuniasolua Savusa, former Command Sergeant Major in the United States Army[4]
- Timothy Jones, businessman
- Running mate: Tuika Tuika, government official and candidate for governor in 2008[5]
- Afoa Moega Lutu, High Chief of Utulei, former attorney general, and candidate for governor in 2008
- Running mate: Le'i Sonny Thompson, director of the Department of Administrative Services[6]
- Lolo Letalu Matalasi Moliga, president of the Development Bank of American Samoa
- Running mate: Lemanu Peleti Mauga, territorial Senator[7]
- 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[8]
- Save Liuato Afa Tuitele, former judge of the High Court of American Samoa
- Running mate: Tofoitaufa Sandra King-Young, founder and CEO of the Pacific Islands Center for Educational Development[9]
Withdrawn candidates[]
- 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[10][11]
American Samoa Fono[]
Voters elected twenty members to the American Samoa House of Representatives.[2]
Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives[]
Voters will also choose American Samoa's delegate to the United States House of Representatives, who holds office for a two-year term. Incumbent Eni Faleomavaega won re-election to a 113th, two-year term.
Referendum[]
Voters were asked "Should Article II, Sections 9 and 19 of the revised constitution of American Samoa be revised to give the Fono, rather than the Secretary for the U.S. Department of Interior, the power to override the Governors veto?"[12]
The proposal would involve amending two parts of the constitution:
| Section | Existing text | Proposed text |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter II article 9 section 3 |
Not later than 14 months after a bill has been vetoed by the governor, it may be passed over his veto by a two-thirds majority of the entire membership of each house at any session of the legislature, regular or special. A bill so repassed shall be represented to the governor for his approval. If he does not approve it within 15 days, he shall send it together with his comment thereon to the Secretary of the Interior. If the Secretary of the Interior approves it within 90 days after its receipt by him, it shall become a law; otherwise it shall not. | Not later than 14 months after a bill has been vetoed by the governor, it may be passed over his veto by a two-thirds majority of the entire membership of each House at any session of the legislature, regular or special. A bill so repassed shall become law 90 days after the adjournment of the session in which it was repassed. |
| Chapter II article 19 |
An act of the legislature required to be approved and approved by the governor only shall take effect no-sooner than 60 days from the end of the session at which the same shall have been passed while an act required to be approved by the Secretary of the Interior only after its veto by the governor and so approved shall take effect no sooner than 40 days after its return to the governor by the Secretary of the Interior. The foregoing is subject to the exception that in case of an emergency the act may take effect at an earlier date stated in the act provided that the emergency be declared in the preamble and in the body of the act. | An act of the legislature required to be approved and approved by the governor only shall take effect no-sooner than 60 days from the end of the session at which the same shall have been passed. The foregoing is subject to the exception that in case of an emergency the act may take effect at an earlier date stated in the act provided that the emergency be declared in the preamble and in the body of the act. |
Results[]
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| For | 5,852 | 44.92 |
| Against | 7,177 | 55.08 |
| Invalid/blank votes | – | |
| Total | 13,029 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 17,774 | |
| Source: Direct Democracy | ||
References[]
- ^ "Electoral Calendar - international elections world elections". Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-12.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "American Samoa officials ready for next week's election". Radio New Zealand International. 2012-10-30. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
- ^ Sagapolutele, Fili (February 26, 2012). "Female Educator Enters Race For Am. Samoa Governor". Samoa News. East-West Center. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
- ^ Montgomery, Nancy (September 2, 2012). "After 37 years in uniform, Army veteran turns eye to politics". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
- ^ Feagaimaalii-Luamanu, Joyetter (September 4, 2012). "Who's on the ballot?". Talanei. Archived from the original on October 30, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
- ^ Feagaimaalii-Luamanu, Joyetter (February 22, 2012). "AFOA AND LE'I OFFICIALLY ENTER 2012 GUBERNATORIAL RACE". Samoa News. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
- ^ "Former President of American Samoa Senate enters gubernatorial race". Radio New Zealand International. October 20, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
- ^ "American Samoa's Lt Governor vies top job in next year's election". Radio New Zealand International. November 22, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
- ^ "Save picks woman as American Samoa co-candidate". Radio New Zealand International. January 23, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
- ^ Deposa, Moneth (August 24, 2011). "CUC to lose its executive director". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
- ^ "American Samoa governor candidate withdraws from race". Radio New Zealand International. October 11, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
- ^ 2012 Amendment to the Revised Constitution Archived 2012-11-12 at the Wayback Machine American Samoa Government Election Office
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