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General elections were held in American Samoa on November 6, 2012, to elect a new governor and lieutenant governor, twenty members of the American Samoa House of Representatives and the Delegate to United States House of Representatives.[1] Incumbent governor Togiola Tulafono was term-limited and could not seek re-election.
Lolo Matalasi Moliga was elected governor, while Eni Faleomavaega was re-elected as the U.S. House delegate.
Gubernatorial election[edit]
The incumbent, Governor Togiola Tulafono, who had held office since 2003, was term-limited and could not seek re-election.[2] 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.[3]
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.[4]
Candidates[edit]
Six candidates sought election as the next Governor of American Samoa in 2012.[2] Governor Togiola Tulafono was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term.[2]
- Salu Hunkin-Finau, educator and former president of the American Samoa Community College. Only female candidate for governor.[5]
- Running mate: Iuniasolua Savusa, former Command Sergeant Major in the United States Army[6]
- Timothy Jones, businessman
- Running mate: Tuika Tuika, government official and candidate for governor in 2008[7]
- 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[8]
- Lolo Letalu Matalasi Moliga, president of the Development Bank of American Samoa
- Running mate: Lemanu Peleti Mauga, territorial Senator[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]
- 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[11]
Withdrawn candidates[edit]
- 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[12][13]
Controversy[edit]
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.[14] 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.[14] 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 Taufete'e Faumuina Jr. and Le'i Sonny Thompson.[15]
The case was heard by the High Court of American Samoa,[14] which turned down the petition allowing all candidates to remain in the election.[16]
Endorsements[edit]
Outgoing governor Togiola Tulafono endorsed his lieutenant governor, Faoa Aitofele Sunia, for governor in the six-way election.[17]
Referendum[edit]
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?"[18]
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[edit]
Governor[edit]
| Candidate | First round | Second round | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |
| Lolo Matalasi Moliga | 4,372 | 33.49 | 6,645 | 52.94 |
| Faoa Aitofele Sunia | 4,315 | 33.06 | 5,908 | 47.06 |
| Afoa Moega Lutu | 2,521 | 19.31 | ||
| Salu Hunkin-Finau | 893 | 6.84 | ||
| Save Liuato Tuitele | 763 | 5.85 | ||
| Timothy Jones | 189 | 1.45 | ||
| Total | 13,053 | 100.00 | 12,553 | 100.00 |
U.S. House delegate[edit]
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eni Faleomavaega | Democratic Party | 7,221 | 55.22 | |
| Amata Coleman Radewagen | Constitution Party | 4,420 | 33.80 | |
| Rosie F. Tago Lancaster | Independent | 697 | 5.33 | |
| Kereti Mata'utia Jr. | Democratic Party | 438 | 3.35 | |
| Fatumalala Leulua'iali'i A. Al-Sheri | Independent | 300 | 2.29 | |
| Total | 13,076 | 100.00 | ||
| Source: Federal Election Commission | ||||
Referendum[edit]
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 5,852 | 44.92 | |
| Against | 7,177 | 55.08 | |
| Total | 13,029 | 100.00 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 17,774 | – | |
| Source: Direct Democracy | |||
References[edit]
- ^ "American Samoa officials ready for next week's election". Radio New Zealand International. October 30, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c "6 candidates vie to be American Samoa's governor". Real Clear Politics. Associated Press. September 4, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
- ^ "2012 Gubernatorial Elections" (PDF). National Governors Association. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
- ^ "American Samoa officials ready for next week's election". Radio New Zealand International. October 30, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
- ^ Sagapolutele, Fili (February 26, 2012). "Female Educator Enters Race For Am. Samoa Governor". Samoa News. East-West Center. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. 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 June 14, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
- ^ "American Samoa governor candidate withdraws from race". Radio New Zealand International. October 11, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Court in American Samoa to hear appeal against election officer's decision". Radio New Zealand International. September 16, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
- ^ "Four candidates in American Samoa's gubernatorial race challenged". Radio New Zealand International. January 23, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
- ^ Sagapolutele, Fili (September 21, 2012). "Team Save-Sandra hope in future elections law obeyed". Samoa News. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ Sagapolutele, Fili (November 1, 2012). "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 March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ 2012 Amendment to the Revised Constitution Archived November 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine American Samoa Government Election Office
