American Samoa gubernatorial election, 2008
Encyclopedia
The 2008 American Samoa gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2008, coinciding with the 2008 United States general elections
and the American Samoa general election
. Because no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election between the top two candidates was held on November 18, 2008, which Togiola Tulafono won. All elections in American Samoa are officially non-partisan, but Tulafono and Sunia identify with the Democratic Party
.
and Lieutenant Governor
Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia
announced their intent to seek re-election on May 10, 2008. They are being challenged by three nonpartisan
team tickets. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor are elected under the same ticket. All elections in American Samoa are nonpartisan.
and Lieutenant Governor
Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia
announced their intent to seek re-election on May 10, 2008. 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.
Afoa Moega Lutu
formally announced his own candidacy for Governor of American Samoa at a campaign rally at the same Tradewinds Hotel on May 17, 2008. The rally consisted of about seven hundred Lutu supporters. Lutu promised to tackle a number of issues if elected Governor, including corruption
, rising food and energy prices and the economy
.
Utu Abe Malae
and his running mate, Nua Mailo Saoluaga
, formally announced their candidacy on June 10, 2008, at a gathering at the Maliu Mai Beach Resort in Pago Pago.
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. Lutu also fell short in his bids for Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa in the 1996 and 2000 elections, losing both times to Tulafono.
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 June 13, 2008, just two months into his campaign, citing existing commitments to his extended family clan
. 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.
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. 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
.
The deadline
to register as a candidate for Governor in the current election was September 1, 2008, at 4:30 P.M. An official list of the four teams was released by the election office the following day.
United States general elections, 2008
The 2008 United States general elections were held on November 4. The result was a significant victory for the Democratic Party on the national level, as they increased majorities in both houses of Congress and won the Presidency. Democrat Barack Obama defeated Republican John McCain in the...
and the American Samoa general election
American Samoan general election, 2008
General elections was held in American Samoa on 4 November 2008, coinciding with the 2008 United States general elections.- Gubernatorial election :...
. Because no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election between the top two candidates was held on November 18, 2008, which Togiola Tulafono won. All elections in American Samoa are officially non-partisan, but Tulafono and Sunia identify with the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Candidates
Incumbent Governor Togiola TulafonoTogiola Tulafono
Togiola Talalelei A. Tulafono is the Governor of American Samoa. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He had previously served as Lieutenant Governor, taking this position on January 3, 1997....
and Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa
The government of American Samoa consists of a locally elected governor, lieutenant governor and the American Samoa Fono, which consists of an 18-member Senate and a 21-member House of Representatives. The first popular election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor took place in 1977...
Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia
Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia
Ipulasi Aitofele Toese Fiti Sunia is an American Samoan lawyer and politician. Sunia has served as the Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa since April 11, 2003.-Early life :...
announced their intent to seek re-election on May 10, 2008. They are being challenged by three nonpartisan
Nonpartisan
In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....
team tickets. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor are elected under the same ticket. All elections in American Samoa are nonpartisan.
- Togiola TulafonoTogiola TulafonoTogiola Talalelei A. Tulafono is the Governor of American Samoa. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He had previously served as Lieutenant Governor, taking this position on January 3, 1997....
– Incumbent Governor of American Samoa (in the Democratic Party)- Running mateRunning mateA running mate is a person running together with another person on a joint ticket during an election. The term is most often used in reference to the person in the subordinate position but can also properly be used when referring to both candidates, such as "Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen were...
: Ipulasi Aitofele SuniaIpulasi Aitofele SuniaIpulasi Aitofele Toese Fiti Sunia is an American Samoan lawyer and politician. Sunia has served as the Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa since April 11, 2003.-Early life :...
, Incumbent Lieutenant Governor of American SamoaLieutenant Governor of American SamoaThe government of American Samoa consists of a locally elected governor, lieutenant governor and the American Samoa Fono, which consists of an 18-member Senate and a 21-member House of Representatives. The first popular election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor took place in 1977...
(in the Democratic Party)
- Running mate
- Afoa Moega LutuAfoa Moega LutuAfoafouvale Leulumoegafou Su’esu’e Lutu is an American Samoan politician and lawyer. Lutu has served as the former American Samoan Attorney General.Lutu was defeated in the 2004 gubernatorial election by Togiola Tulafono...
– Former Attorney GeneralAttorney GeneralIn most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
of American Samoa, candidate for governor in 2004- Running mate: Velega SavaliVelega SavaliVelega Savali Savali Jr. is an American Samoan politician. Savali is currently 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.-Personal life:Savali is married to Leleiga...
, former American Samoan TreasurerTreasurerA treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
(2005-2008)
- Running mate: Velega Savali
- Utu Abe MalaeUtu Abe MalaeUtu Abe Malae is an American Samoan politician, banker and businessman. Malae was a candidate for Governor of American Samoa in the 2008 gubernatorial elections, finishing second in the runoff to incumbent Governor Togiola Tulafono....
– Former President of the Development Bank of American Samoa- Running mate: Nua Mailo SaoluagaNua Mailo SaoluagaNua Mailo Saoluaga is an American Samoan politician. He served as the Speaker of the American Samoa House of Representatives from 1997 until 2002....
, former SpeakerSpeaker (politics)The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the American Samoa House of RepresentativesAmerican Samoa House of RepresentativesThe American Samoa House of Representatives is the lower house of the American Samoa Fono. The House consists of 21 representatives serving two-year terms, with 20 popular elected members, and one representative elected by a public meeting on Swains Island....
(1997-2002)
- Running mate: Nua Mailo Saoluaga
- Tuika TuikaTuika TuikaTuika Tuika Jr. is an American Samoan accountant and politician. He has worked for various American Samoan government offices for many years....
– AccountantAccountantAn accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
- Running mate: Tee MasaniaiTee MasaniaiTe’e Masaniai Jr. is an American Samoan politician and United States military retiree, Vietnam War veteran and Purple Heart recipient....
, United States military retiree
- Running mate: Tee Masaniai
Election background
Governor Togiola TulafonoTogiola Tulafono
Togiola Talalelei A. Tulafono is the Governor of American Samoa. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He had previously served as Lieutenant Governor, taking this position on January 3, 1997....
and Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa
The government of American Samoa consists of a locally elected governor, lieutenant governor and the American Samoa Fono, which consists of an 18-member Senate and a 21-member House of Representatives. The first popular election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor took place in 1977...
Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia
Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia
Ipulasi Aitofele Toese Fiti Sunia is an American Samoan lawyer and politician. Sunia has served as the Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa since April 11, 2003.-Early life :...
announced their intent to seek re-election on May 10, 2008. 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.
Afoa Moega Lutu
Afoa Moega Lutu
Afoafouvale Leulumoegafou Su’esu’e Lutu is an American Samoan politician and lawyer. Lutu has served as the former American Samoan Attorney General.Lutu was defeated in the 2004 gubernatorial election by Togiola Tulafono...
formally announced his own candidacy for Governor of American Samoa at a campaign rally at the same Tradewinds Hotel on May 17, 2008. The rally consisted of about seven hundred Lutu supporters. Lutu promised to tackle a number of issues if elected Governor, including corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
, rising food and energy prices and the economy
Economy
An economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
.
Utu Abe Malae
Utu Abe Malae
Utu Abe Malae is an American Samoan politician, banker and businessman. Malae was a candidate for Governor of American Samoa in the 2008 gubernatorial elections, finishing second in the runoff to incumbent Governor Togiola Tulafono....
and his running mate, Nua Mailo Saoluaga
Nua Mailo Saoluaga
Nua Mailo Saoluaga is an American Samoan politician. He served as the Speaker of the American Samoa House of Representatives from 1997 until 2002....
, formally announced their candidacy on June 10, 2008, at a gathering at the Maliu Mai Beach Resort in Pago Pago.
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. Lutu also fell short in his bids for Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa in the 1996 and 2000 elections, losing both times to Tulafono.
The President of the American Samoa Senate
American Samoa Senate
The American Samoa Senate is the upper house of the American Samoa Fono. The Senate, like the lower House of Representatives, is a nonpartisan body. It is composed of 18 senators, serving a four-year term.-List of Senators:* Utu Abe Malae...
, Lolo Moliga, also originally announced his intention to run for governor as well. However, Lolo withdrew from the race on June 13, 2008, just two months into his campaign, citing existing commitments to his extended family clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
. 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.
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. Those with Manu'a ancestry are incumbent Lt. Governor Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia
Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia
Ipulasi Aitofele Toese Fiti Sunia is an American Samoan lawyer and politician. Sunia has served as the Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa since April 11, 2003.-Early life :...
, lieutenant governor candidate Velega Savali
Velega Savali
Velega Savali Savali Jr. is an American Samoan politician. Savali is currently 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.-Personal life:Savali is married to Leleiga...
, and both members of the gubernatorial team of Utu Abe Malae
Utu Abe Malae
Utu Abe Malae is an American Samoan politician, banker and businessman. Malae was a candidate for Governor of American Samoa in the 2008 gubernatorial elections, finishing second in the runoff to incumbent Governor Togiola Tulafono....
and his running mate, Nua Mailo Saoluaga
Nua Mailo Saoluaga
Nua Mailo Saoluaga is an American Samoan politician. He served as the Speaker of the American Samoa House of Representatives from 1997 until 2002....
.
The deadline
Time limit
A time limit or deadline is a narrow field of time, or particular point in time, by which an objective or task must be accomplished.In project management, deadlines are most often associated with milestone goals....
to register as a candidate for Governor in the current election was September 1, 2008, at 4:30 P.M. An official list of the four teams was released by the election office the following day.
Results
| American Samoa gubernatorial election, 2008 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Running mate | Political Party | First round | Second round | |||
| Votes | Percentage | Votes | Percentage | ||||
| Togiola Tulafono Togiola Tulafono Togiola Talalelei A. Tulafono is the Governor of American Samoa. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He had previously served as Lieutenant Governor, taking this position on January 3, 1997.... (incumbent Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... ) |
Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia Ipulasi Aitofele Toese Fiti Sunia is an American Samoan lawyer and politician. Sunia has served as the Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa since April 11, 2003.-Early life :... (inc.) |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
5,117 | 41.24% | 6,590 | 56.45% | |
| Utu Abe Malae Utu Abe Malae Utu Abe Malae is an American Samoan politician, banker and businessman. Malae 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 Nua Mailo Saoluaga Nua Mailo Saoluaga is an American Samoan politician. He served as the Speaker of the American Samoa House of Representatives from 1997 until 2002.... |
Libertarian Libertarian Party (United States) The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration... |
3,881 | 31.28% | 5,084 | 43.55% | |
| Afoa Moega Lutu Afoa Moega Lutu Afoafouvale Leulumoegafou Su’esu’e Lutu is an American Samoan politician and lawyer. Lutu has served as the former American Samoan Attorney General.Lutu was defeated in the 2004 gubernatorial election by Togiola Tulafono... |
Velega Savali Velega Savali Velega Savali Savali Jr. is an American Samoan politician. Savali is currently 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.-Personal life:Savali is married to Leleiga... |
Samoa Reunification Party | 3,347 | 26.97% | |||
| Tuika Tuika Tuika Tuika Tuika Tuika Jr. is an American Samoan accountant and politician. He has worked for various American Samoan government offices for many years.... |
Tee Masaniai Tee Masaniai Te’e Masaniai Jr. is an American Samoan politician and United States military retiree, Vietnam War veteran and Purple Heart recipient.... |
Socialist Workers | 63 | 0.51% | |||
| Invalid or blank votes | |||||||
| Totals | 12,408 | 100.00% | 11,674 | 100.00% | |||
| Voter turnout | |||||||
External links
- Pacific Magazine: Faleomavaega Cruises To Re-Election; Run-Off In Governor's Race
- Pacific Magazine: Voting Gets Underway In American Samoa Special Election 13 November 2008
- American Samoa Election Office
- Pacific Magazine: 17,000 Registered Voters Ready For The Polls In American Samoa
- Official campaign websites
- Afoa and Velega for Governor and Lt. Governor, Nonpartisan candidates
- Utu Abe Malae and Nua Mailo Saoluaga for Governor and Lt. Governor, Nonpartisan candidate
- Re-elect Togiola Tulafono for Governor 2008, Democratic candidate
- Samoa News political advertisement for Tukia for Governor, Nonpartisan candidates
- Office of the Governor of American Samoa
- Biography of Governor Togiola Tulafono, Democratic candidate
- Biography of Lt. Governor Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia, Democratic candidate