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2008 American Samoan general election

General elections were held in American Samoa on November 4, 2008, to elect a governor, members of the House of Representative, and a delegate to the United States House of Representatives, as well as a referendum on a legislative override of the governor's veto. The elections were held as part of the wider 2008 United States general election.

2008 American Samoan general election

Gubernatorial election
← 2004 November 4, 2008 (first round)
November 18, 2008 (second round)
2012 →
 
Nominee Togiola Tulafono Utu Abe Malae
Running mate Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia Nua Mailo Saoluaga
Popular vote 6,590 5,084
Percentage 56.45% 43.55%

Governor before election

Togiola Tulafono

Elected Governor

Togiola Tulafono

U.S. House delegate election
← 2006 November 4, 2008 2010 →
 
Candidate Eni Faleomavaega Amata Coleman Radewagen
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 7,498 4,349
Percentage 60.38% 35.02%

Delegate before election

Eni Faleomavaega
Democratic

Elected Delegate

Eni Faleomavaega
Democratic

In the gubernatorial election no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the first round, resulting in a runoff election between the top two candidates on November 18, which was won by the incumbent governor Togiola Tulafono.[1]

Incumbent U.S. House delegate Eni Faleomavaega, who affiliates with the Democratic Party was also re-elected.

Gubernatorial election edit

Background edit

Governor Togiola Tulafono and Lieutenant Governor Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia announced their intent to seek re-election on May 10, 2008.[2] 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.[2]

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.[3] The rally consisted of about seven hundred Lutu supporters.[3] Lutu promised to tackle a number of issues if elected governor, including corruption, rising food and energy prices and the economy.[3]

Utu Abe Malae and his running mate, Nua Mailo Saoluaga, formally announced their candidacy on June 10 at a gathering at the Maliu Mai Beach Resort in Pago Pago.[4]

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.[3] Lutu also fell short in his bids for Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa in the 1996 and 2000 elections, losing both times to Tulafono.[5]

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, just two months into his campaign, citing existing commitments to his extended family clan.[6] 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.[6]

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.[6] 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.[6]

The deadline to register as a candidate for governor in the current election was September 1 at 16:30.[6] An official list of the four teams was released by the election office the following day.[7]

Candidates edit

All elections in American Samoa are officially non-partisan, but Tulafono and Sunia identify with the Democratic Party.[11]

House of Representatives edit

There were 54 candidates vying for the 20 elected seats in the American Samoa House of Representatives.[12] All seats in the House are up for election in 2008. Every incumbent member of the House sought re-election, except for Gaoteote P. Gaoteote who is retiring.[12] The only member who ran unopposed was Rep. Agaoleatu Charlie Tautolo.[12]

U.S. House of Representatives edit

Ten term incumbent Delegate Eni Faleomavaega, a Democrat, sought an 11th term.[13] He was challenged by Republican Aumua Amata Coleman and Independent Rosie F. Tago Lancaster.[14]

Referendum edit

A referendum to allow the legislative override of the governor's vetoes was also on the ballot.[15]

The American Samoa Fono passed the proposal giving itself the authority to override a veto by the Governor of American Samoa.[15] The proposal was then submitted to the Governor's office to be forwarded to the American Samoa election office as a referendum.[15] The referendum will ask voters to agree to amend the Constitution of American Samoa to give the Fono, rather than the United States Secretary of the Interior, the power to override a veto by the Governor.[15]

Currently, a veto can only be overridden by the United States Secretary of the Interior, who is based in Washington D.C.[15] Any veto powers bestowed on the Fono would require a two-thirds majority in both the American Samoa House of Representatives and the American Samoa Senate before becoming law.[15]

Results edit

Governor edit

CandidateRunning mateFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Togiola TulafonoIpulasi Aitofele Sunia5,11741.246,59056.45
Utu Abe MalaeNua Mailo Saoluaga3,88131.285,08443.55
Afoa Moega LutuVelega Savali3,34726.97
Tuika TuikaTee Masaniai630.51
Total12,408100.0011,674100.00
Source: [16][17]

U.S. House of Representatives edit

CandidatePartyVotes%
Eni FaleomavaegaDemocratic Party7,49860.38
Amata Coleman RadewagenRepublican Party4,34935.02
Rosie Tago LancasterIndependent5704.59
Total12,417100.00
Source:

Referendum edit

The legislative over-ride proposal was defeated narrowly in the referendum, thereby maintaining the veto powers to the United States Secretary of the Interior.[15]

ChoiceVotes%
For6,13749.91
Against6,15950.09
Total12,296100.00
Source:

References edit

  1. ^ "Absentee voting in American Samoa run-off election underway". Radio New Zealand International. November 13, 2008. Retrieved November 15, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Sagapolutele, Fili (May 11, 2008). . Pacific Magazine. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved October 19, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d Sagapolutele, Fili (May 20, 2008). "Afoa Criticizes Government's 'Damaged Reputation'". Pacific Magazine. Retrieved October 19, 2008.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ Sagapolutele, Fili (June 10, 2008). "Utu Abe Malae Officially Declares Run For Governor". Pacific Magazine. Retrieved October 22, 2008.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ a b . Pacific Magazine. May 1, 2004. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved October 19, 2008.
  6. ^ a b c d e Sagapolutele, Fili (June 13, 2008). "Senate President Lolo Moliga Withdraws From Gubernatorial Race". Pacific Magazine. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
  7. ^ Sagapolutele, Fili (September 2, 2008). "Official list for General Election 2008 released". Samoa News. Retrieved October 20, 2008. [dead link]
  8. ^ Sagapolutele, Fili (June 1, 2008). "Development Bank President Resigns Ahead Of Possible Gubernatorial Race". Pacific Magazine. Retrieved October 21, 2008.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Former banker announces candidacy for American Samoa Governorship". RNZ. June 10, 2008. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Gov candidates split on how the Delegate serves". Samoa News. October 17, 2008. Retrieved October 19, 2008. [dead link]
  11. ^ "American Samoa 2008 General Election". The Green Papers. Retrieved December 3, 2008.
  12. ^ a b c Sagapolutele, Fili (September 2, 2008). "Official list for General Election 2008 released". Samoa News. Retrieved October 20, 2008. [dead link]
  13. ^ "American Samoa's member of US Congress to seek re-election next year". Radio New Zealand. November 10, 2007. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  14. ^ "The Green Papers: American Samoa 2008 General Election". The Green Papers. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g "Veto over-ride to go to a referendum in American Samoa". Radio New Zealand. September 8, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  16. ^ . American Samoa Government Election Office. Archived from the original on November 26, 2008. Retrieved December 3, 2008.
  17. ^ "American Samoa Gov. Togiola Cruises To Re-Election Victory". PacNews. November 20, 2008 – via Gale OneFile.

External links edit

    2008, american, samoan, general, election, general, elections, were, held, american, samoa, november, 2008, elect, governor, members, house, representative, delegate, united, states, house, representatives, well, referendum, legislative, override, governor, ve. General elections were held in American Samoa on November 4 2008 to elect a governor members of the House of Representative and a delegate to the United States House of Representatives as well as a referendum on a legislative override of the governor s veto The elections were held as part of the wider 2008 United States general election 2008 American Samoan general electionGubernatorial election 2004 November 4 2008 first round November 18 2008 second round 2012 Nominee Togiola Tulafono Utu Abe Malae Running mate Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia Nua Mailo Saoluaga Popular vote 6 590 5 084 Percentage 56 45 43 55 Governor before election Togiola Tulafono Elected Governor Togiola TulafonoU S House delegate election 2006 November 4 2008 2010 Candidate Eni Faleomavaega Amata Coleman Radewagen Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 7 498 4 349 Percentage 60 38 35 02 Delegate before election Eni Faleomavaega Democratic Elected Delegate Eni Faleomavaega Democratic In the gubernatorial election no candidate received more than 50 of the vote in the first round resulting in a runoff election between the top two candidates on November 18 which was won by the incumbent governor Togiola Tulafono 1 Incumbent U S House delegate Eni Faleomavaega who affiliates with the Democratic Party was also re elected Contents 1 Gubernatorial election 1 1 Background 1 2 Candidates 1 3 House of Representatives 1 4 U S House of Representatives 1 5 Referendum 2 Results 2 1 Governor 2 2 U S House of Representatives 2 3 Referendum 3 References 4 External linksGubernatorial election editBackground edit Governor Togiola Tulafono and Lieutenant Governor Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia announced their intent to seek re election on May 10 2008 2 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 2 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 3 The rally consisted of about seven hundred Lutu supporters 3 Lutu promised to tackle a number of issues if elected governor including corruption rising food and energy prices and the economy 3 Utu Abe Malae and his running mate Nua Mailo Saoluaga formally announced their candidacy on June 10 at a gathering at the Maliu Mai Beach Resort in Pago Pago 4 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 3 Lutu also fell short in his bids for Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa in the 1996 and 2000 elections losing both times to Tulafono 5 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 just two months into his campaign citing existing commitments to his extended family clan 6 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 6 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 6 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 6 The deadline to register as a candidate for governor in the current election was September 1 at 16 30 6 An official list of the four teams was released by the election office the following day 7 Candidates edit Togiola Tulafono Incumbent Governor of American Samoa affiliated with the Democratic Party Running mate Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia Incumbent Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa Afoa Moega Lutu Former Attorney General of American Samoa candidate for governor in 2004 5 affiliated with the Republican Party Running mate Velega Savali former American Samoan Treasurer 2005 2008 Utu Abe Malae Former President of the Development Bank of American Samoa 8 affiliated with the Republican Party Running mate Nua Mailo Saoluaga 9 former Speaker of the American Samoa House of Representatives 1997 2002 Tuika Tuika Accountant 10 affiliated with the Republican Party Running mate Tee Masaniai United States military retiree 10 All elections in American Samoa are officially non partisan but Tulafono and Sunia identify with the Democratic Party 11 House of Representatives edit There were 54 candidates vying for the 20 elected seats in the American Samoa House of Representatives 12 All seats in the House are up for election in 2008 Every incumbent member of the House sought re election except for Gaoteote P Gaoteote who is retiring 12 The only member who ran unopposed was Rep Agaoleatu Charlie Tautolo 12 U S House of Representatives edit Ten term incumbent Delegate Eni Faleomavaega a Democrat sought an 11th term 13 He was challenged by Republican Aumua Amata Coleman and Independent Rosie F Tago Lancaster 14 Referendum edit A referendum to allow the legislative override of the governor s vetoes was also on the ballot 15 The American Samoa Fono passed the proposal giving itself the authority to override a veto by the Governor of American Samoa 15 The proposal was then submitted to the Governor s office to be forwarded to the American Samoa election office as a referendum 15 The referendum will ask voters to agree to amend the Constitution of American Samoa to give the Fono rather than the United States Secretary of the Interior the power to override a veto by the Governor 15 Currently a veto can only be overridden by the United States Secretary of the Interior who is based in Washington D C 15 Any veto powers bestowed on the Fono would require a two thirds majority in both the American Samoa House of Representatives and the American Samoa Senate before becoming law 15 Results editGovernor edit CandidateRunning mateFirst roundSecond roundVotes Votes Togiola TulafonoIpulasi Aitofele Sunia5 11741 246 59056 45Utu Abe MalaeNua Mailo Saoluaga3 88131 285 08443 55Afoa Moega LutuVelega Savali3 34726 97Tuika TuikaTee Masaniai630 51Total12 408100 0011 674100 00Source 16 17 U S House of Representatives edit CandidatePartyVotes Eni FaleomavaegaDemocratic Party7 49860 38Amata Coleman RadewagenRepublican Party4 34935 02Rosie Tago LancasterIndependent5704 59Total12 417100 00Source Election Office Referendum edit The legislative over ride proposal was defeated narrowly in the referendum thereby maintaining the veto powers to the United States Secretary of the Interior 15 ChoiceVotes For6 13749 91Against6 15950 09Total12 296100 00Source Election OfficeReferences edit Absentee voting in American Samoa run off election underway Radio New Zealand International November 13 2008 Retrieved November 15 2008 a b Sagapolutele Fili May 11 2008 Togiola Ipulasi Announce Re election Bid Pacific Magazine Archived from the original on October 12 2008 Retrieved October 19 2008 a b c d Sagapolutele Fili May 20 2008 Afoa Criticizes Government s Damaged Reputation Pacific Magazine Retrieved October 19 2008 permanent dead link Sagapolutele Fili June 10 2008 Utu Abe Malae Officially Declares Run For Governor Pacific Magazine Retrieved October 22 2008 permanent dead link a b People Briefs Pacific Magazine May 1 2004 Archived from the original on November 21 2008 Retrieved October 19 2008 a b c d e Sagapolutele Fili June 13 2008 Senate President Lolo Moliga Withdraws From Gubernatorial Race Pacific Magazine Retrieved October 21 2008 Sagapolutele Fili September 2 2008 Official list for General Election 2008 released Samoa News Retrieved October 20 2008 dead link Sagapolutele Fili June 1 2008 Development Bank President Resigns Ahead Of Possible Gubernatorial Race Pacific Magazine Retrieved October 21 2008 permanent dead link Former banker announces candidacy for American Samoa Governorship RNZ June 10 2008 Retrieved June 4 2022 a b Gov candidates split on how the Delegate serves Samoa News October 17 2008 Retrieved October 19 2008 dead link American Samoa 2008 General Election The Green Papers Retrieved December 3 2008 a b c Sagapolutele Fili September 2 2008 Official list for General Election 2008 released Samoa News Retrieved October 20 2008 dead link American Samoa s member of US Congress to seek re election next year Radio New Zealand November 10 2007 Retrieved January 14 2021 The Green Papers American Samoa 2008 General Election The Green Papers Retrieved June 4 2022 a b c d e f g Veto over ride to go to a referendum in American Samoa Radio New Zealand September 8 2008 Retrieved January 14 2021 UNOFFICIAL RESULTS GENERAL ELECTION 2008 GOVERNOR amp LT GOVERNOR NOVEMBER 4 2008 American Samoa Government Election Office Archived from the original on November 26 2008 Retrieved December 3 2008 American Samoa Gov Togiola Cruises To Re Election Victory PacNews November 20 2008 via Gale OneFile External links editAmerican Samoa Election Office Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2008 American Samoan general election amp oldid 1215963475, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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