| Lolo Matalasi Moliga | |
| Order: | 7th Governor of American Samoa |
| Lieutenant: | Peleti Mauga |
| Term Start: | January 3, 2013 |
| Term End: | January 3, 2021 |
| Predecessor: | Togiola Tulafono |
| Successor: | Peleti Mauga |
| Birth Date: | 12 August 1947 |
| Birth Place: | Taʻū, American Samoa, U.S. |
| Party: | Democratic (before 2011, 2016–present)[1] Independent (2011–2015)[2] |
| Spouse: | Cynthia Malala |
| Education: | Chadron State College (BA) San Diego State University (MPA) |
| Signature: | Lolo Moliga Signature.png |
Lolo Letalu Matalasi (born August 12, 1947)[3] is an American Samoan politician, educator, and businessman.[4] [5] He served as the seventh governor of American Samoa, from 2013 to 2021.
Moliga was born in Taʻū, Manu'a, American Samoa. His father was High Chief Moliga Sa'ena Aunuua Moliga, who was from Ta'u. His mother, Soali’i Galea’i, was a native of both Fitiuta and Olosega. He attended Papatea Junior Elementary and attended Samoana High School before graduating from Manu'a High School. Moliga holds a bachelor's degree in education from Chadron State College in Nebraska. He received a master's degree in public administration from San Diego State University on July 30, 2012.[6]
Moliga began his career as a teacher.[5] He then became an elementary school principal before becoming the principal of Manu'a High School in the Manu'a Islands.[5] He would later become an elementary and secondary education administrator within the American Samoan Department of Education.[5] He also served as director of the ASG Budget Office, as well as American Samoa's chief procurement officer for two terms.[5] Outside of public office, Moliga owns a construction firm.[5]
Moliga was elected to the American Samoa House of Representatives for four terms.[5] He later became a Senator within the American Samoa Senate, where he served as the body's senate president from 2005 until 2008.[5] Moliga, while still a member of the Senate, considered a candidacy in the 2008 gubernatorial election, but withdrew from the race before announcing a potential running mate, citing existing commitments.[5] Moliga was appointed as president of the Development Bank of American Samoa by Governor Togiola Tulafono and confirmed by the Senate.[5]
See main article: 2012 American Samoa gubernatorial election. In October 2011, Moliga became the second candidate to declare his intention to run in the 2012 gubernatorial election.[5] He chose Senator Lemanu Peleti Mauga as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa.[5] Mauga, a retired member of the U.S. Army, served as the chairman of both the Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Senate Homeland Security Committee in the American Samoan Senate.[5]
Moliga resigned as the president of the Development Bank of American Samoa (DBAS) to focus on his gubernatorial campaign.[5]
Moliga faced five other candidates in the 2012 gubernatorial election on November 6, 2012[7] and received the most votes, but not more than the 50% required to win. The runoff was held November 20, 2012, resulting in Moliga defeating Lieutenant Governor Faoa Aitofele Sunia.[8]
See main article: 2016 American Samoa gubernatorial election. Moliga won re-election on November 8, 2016 with 60.2% of the vote, defeating Faoa Aitofele Sunia and Tuika Tuika.[9]
On March 16, 2020, Moliga went into voluntary self-isolation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moliga had previously traveled to Seattle and Hawaii, which had experienced cases of COVID-19.[10]
The United States Department of Defense is investigating two masked, uniformed soldiers who joined Moliga when he appeared online during the 2020 Democratic National Convention because uniformed soldiers are not permitted to participate in partisan events.[11]
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