2012 American Samoan general election explained

Country:

American Samoa

Module:

Embed: yes Election Name: Gubernatorial election Type: presidential Previous Election: 2008 American Samoan general election Previous Year: 2008 Next Election: 2016 American Samoa gubernatorial election Next Year: 2016 Election Date: November 6, 2012 (first round) November 20, 2023 (second round) Image1: Lolo Moliga by James Kneubuhl.jpg Nominee1: Lolo Matalasi Moliga Popular Vote1: 6,645 Percentage1: 52.94% Running Mate1: Lemanu Peleti Mauga Nominee2: Faoa Aitofele Sunia Running Mate2: Taufete'e John Faumuina, Jr. Popular Vote2: 5,908 Percentage2: 47.06% Governor Before Election: Togiola Tulafono After Election: Lolo Matalasi Moliga Module: Embed: yes Election Name: U.S. House delegate election Type: presidential Previous Election: 2010 American Samoan general election Previous Year: 2010 Next Election: 2014 American Samoan general election Next Year: 2014 Election Date: November 6, 2012 Image1: Congressman_Eni_Faleomavaega.jpg Candidate1: Eni Faleomavaega Party1: Democratic Party (United States) Popular Vote1: 7,221 Percentage1: 55.22% Candidate2: Amata Coleman Radewagen Party2: Constitution Party (United States) Popular Vote2: 4,420 Percentage2: 33.80% Delegate Before Election: Eni Faleomavaega Before Party: Democratic Party (United States) After Election: Eni Faleomavaega After Party: Democratic Party (United States)

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

The incumbent, Governor Togiola Tulafono, who had held office since 2003, was term-limited and could not seek re-election. 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.^[2]

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.^[3]

Candidates

Six candidates sought election as the next Governor of American Samoa in 2012. Governor Togiola Tulafono was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term.^[4]

• 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

• 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

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. 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, which turned down the petition allowing all candidates to remain in the election.^[16]

Endorsements

Outgoing governor Togiola Tulafono endorsed his lieutenant governor, Faoa Aitofele Sunia, for governor in the six-way election.^[17]

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?"^[18]

The proposal would involve amending two parts of the constitution:

Section	Existing text	Proposed text
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

Referendum

Notes and References

1. News: American Samoa officials ready for next week's election . . October 30, 2012 . November 1, 2012.
2. News: 2012 Gubernatorial Elections . . November 2, 2012.
3. News: American Samoa officials ready for next week's election . . October 30, 2012 . November 1, 2012.
4. News: 6 candidates vie to be American Samoa's governor . . . September 4, 2012 . November 1, 2012.
5. Web site: Female Educator Enters Race For Am. Samoa Governor. February 26, 2012. September 19, 2012. Samoa News. East-West Center. Fili. Sagapolutele. December 8, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151208150739/http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2012/February/02-27-13.htm. dead.
6. Web site: After 37 years in uniform, Army veteran turns eye to politics. September 2, 2012. September 19, 2012. Stars and Stripes. Nancy. Montgomery.
7. Web site: Who's on the ballot? . September 4, 2012 . September 19, 2012 . Talanei . Joyetter . Feagaimaalii-Luamanu . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131030010343/http://www.talanei.com/pages/14151727.php . October 30, 2013 .
8. Web site: AFOA AND LE'I OFFICIALLY ENTER 2012 GUBERNATORIAL RACE. February 22, 2012. September 19, 2012. Samoa News. Joyetter. Feagaimaalii-Luamanu.
9. Web site: Former President of American Samoa Senate enters gubernatorial race. October 20, 2011. September 19, 2012. Radio New Zealand International.
10. Web site: American Samoa's Lt Governor vies top job in next year's election. November 22, 2011. September 19, 2012. Radio New Zealand International.
11. Web site: Save picks woman as American Samoa co-candidate. January 23, 2012. September 19, 2012. Radio New Zealand International.
12. Web site: CUC to lose its executive director. August 24, 2011. September 19, 2012. Saipan Tribune. Moneth. Deposa. https://web.archive.org/web/20120614121957/http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=112102&cat=1. June 14, 2012. dead.
13. Web site: American Samoa governor candidate withdraws from race. October 11, 2011. September 19, 2012. Radio New Zealand International.
14. News: Court in American Samoa to hear appeal against election officer's decision . Radio New Zealand International. September 16, 2012 . November 1, 2012.
15. News: Four candidates in American Samoa's gubernatorial race challenged . Radio New Zealand International. January 23, 2012 . November 4, 2012.
16. News: Fili. Sagapolutele. Team Save-Sandra hope in future elections law obeyed. Samoa News. September 21, 2012. November 3, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131023195033/http://samoanews.com/?q=node%2F8967. October 23, 2013. dead.
17. News: Fili. Sagapolutele. Governor endorses Faoa — Save & Sandra announce policy challenges; Togiola Endorses Team Faoa And Taufetee During Final Campaign Event. Samoa News. November 1, 2012. November 3, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234435/http://www.samoanews.com/?q=node%2F24769. March 3, 2016. dead.
18. http://americansamoaelectionoffice.org/2012-amendment-revised-constitution 2012 Amendment to the Revised Constitution