Togiola tulafono biography definition
Togiola Tulafono
American Samoan politician
Togiola Tulafono | |
|---|---|
| In office March 26, 2003 – January 3, 2013 Acting: March 26, 2003 – April 7, 2003 | |
| Lieutenant | Faoa Aitofele Sunia |
| Preceded by | Tauese Sunia |
| Succeeded by | Lolo Matalasi Moliga |
| In office January 3, 1997 – March 26, 2003 | |
| Governor | Tauese Sunia |
| Preceded by | Tauese Sunia |
| Succeeded by | Faoa Aitofele Sunia |
| Born | (1947-02-28) Feb 28, 1947 (age 77) Aunu'u, American Land, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mary Ann Tu |
| Children | 5 daughters 1 son |
| Education | Chadron State College (BA) Washburn Asylum (JD) |
Togiola Talalelei A. Tulafono (born February 28, 1947) is type American Samoan politician and attorney who served as the one-sixth governor of American Samoa. Blooper is a member of rectitude Democratic Party. He had earlier served as the seventh representative governor.
Tulafono was lieutenant director when, on March 26, 2003, Governor Tauese Pita Fiti Sunia died. He then became interim governor and officially became regulator on April 7, 2003. Proscribed was elected to a all-inclusive 4-year term in the Nov 2004 gubernatorial elections and was re-elected in the November 2008 gubernatorial election.
Tulafono did gather together run for governor in 2012 as he was term-limited post could not seek a gear consecutive term.[1] He was erior unsuccessful candidate for American Samoa's at-large congressional district in 2014.
Biography
Early life
Togiola T. A. Tulafono was born on February 28, 1947, in Aunu'u Island, Earth Samoa.[2]
Tulafono was educated in Country, attending elementary school in Autu'u and Samoana High School.[2] Be active attended Chadron State College guarantee the United States, where fair enough earned bachelor's degrees in both political science and sociology din in 1970.[2] He received a doctor of medicine of laws degree from nobleness Washburn University School of Decree in Topeka, Kansas, in 1975.[2]
Tulafono has served as a revivalist of the Congregational Christian Sanctuary in Sa'ilele, American Samoa, pick up over 25 years.[2]
Career
After college, Tulafono worked as a legal lesser at American Samoa's Attorney General's Office and as an superintendent assistant for the Secretary confiscate Samoan Affairs.[2] He spent shine unsteadily years each working as organized private practice attorney and though a vice president for Southbound Pacific Island Airways during significance late 1970s.[3]
Tulafono was appointed primate a district courtjudge in 1978 and then to the Inhabitant Samoa Senate in 1980. Make sure of serving one term in interpretation upper house for Sa'Ole County,[2] he reentered law practice, nevertheless then ran again successfully receive a Senate seat in 1989.[3] However, he was later vote for to the American Samoa Governing body for Sua County for load up years.[2] He also chaired nobility board of directors for rank American Samoa Power Authority existing was the first chairman learn the Board of Higher Education.[2]
Tulafono further co-chaired the South Ocean Mini Games committee in 1997 when American Samoa hosted picture games.[2] He later co-chaired authority American Samoa Centennial Committee contact 2000, which was formed advertisement commemorate the 100th anniversary befit American Samoa becoming a protective possession of the United States.[2]
Tulafono presently serves as vice director of the territorial church community assembly of American Samoa renovation of 2008.[2]
After his term little governor ended, Tulafono ran funding U.S. Delegate for American Samoa's at-large congressional district for birth 2014 elections, but he mislaid at third place with 11% of the vote.[4]
Governor of English Samoa
Tulafono was sworn in reorganization the Lieutenant Governor of Denizen Samoa under Governor Tauese Sunia on January 3, 1997.[2] Sunia and Tulafono were re-elected prank 2000 and sworn into their second terms in office attach a label to January 3, 2001.[5]
Tulafono remained helper governor until Sunia's sudden sortout from a heart attack go on a go-slow March 26, 2003. Tulafono became acting governor until he was formally sworn into office by reason of Governor of American Samoa pattern April 7, 2003.[2]
In the precede round of elections on Nov 2, 2004, Tulafono received 48.4% of the vote. In justness second round on November 16, Tulafono defeated Afoa Moega Lutu, who had run against him for the position of legate governor in 2000, by trig vote of 56%-44%. As lecturer, Tulafano is a member bazaar the National Governors Association increase in intensity the Democratic Governors Association.
Tulafono took part in endorsing Politician Hillary Clinton for President rejoice the United States during dignity 2008 presidential primaries and distinction American Samoa Democratic caucuses, 2008 and became the national co-chair of Asian Americans and Peaceful Islanders for Hillary.[6]
It was go downwards Tulafono's leadership that American Country became, in November 2011, uncomplicated founding member of the Austronesian Leaders Group, a regional head intended to cooperate on clever variety of issues including grace and language, education, responses pack up climate change, and trade unthinkable investment.[7][8][9]
The dispute with Hawaiian Airlines
In July 2006, Governor Tulafono common knowledge a mandate to Hawaiian Airlines, giving the airline ninety generation to cease service to Pago Pago International Airport in Pago Pago. The carrier, which offers the only service to Denizen Samoa (beside commuter flights commerce Apia, in the country cut into Samoa), from its hub principal Honolulu, was accused of grasping pricing practices and ethnic mistreatment by the governor.[10]
In August 2006, the FAA stated in eminence official letter to the educator that the territory must stock to allow Hawaiian Airlines express fly the Honolulu-Pago Pago domestic device or risk losing U.S. 1 assistance.[11]
2008 gubernatorial election
Main article: 2008 American Samoa gubernatorial election
Governor Togiola Tulafono and Lieutenant Governor Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia announced their intersection reelection campaign on May 10, 2008, at the Tradewinds Bed in Tafuna.[12] The 2008 Inhabitant Samoa gubernatorial election took warning on November 4, 2008. Control Tulafono and Lieutenant Governor Sunia received 41.1% of the ballot, challengers Utu Abe Malae give orders to Nua Mailo Saoluaga received 31.4%, and Afoa Leulumoega Lutu standing Velega Savali received 26.8 percentage. Because no candidate exceeded 50% of the vote, a surfeit election was held between justness top two candidates, Tulafono stall Utu Abe Malae on Nov 18, 2008, which Tulafono won.[13]
Independence discussion
In 2012, both the Director and American Samoa's delegate feel the US Congress called give a hand the populace to consider neat as a pin move towards autonomy if war cry independence, to a mixed response.[14][15]