Togiola Tulafono

Togiola Tulafono
42nd Governor of American Samoa
In office April 7, 20031 – present
Lieutenant	Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia
Preceded by	Tauese Sunia
Personal details
Born	February 28, 1947 Aunu'u Island, American Samoa
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Mary Ann Tulafono
Profession	Attorney, Judge
1. Tulifono was Acting Governor from March 26–April 7, 2003

Togiola Talalelei A. Tulafono (born 1947) is the Governor of American Samoa. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He had perviously served as Lieutenant Governor, since January 1997 . He was Lieutenant Governor when, on March 26, 2003, Governor Tauese Pita Fiti Sunia died. Tulifono became Acting Governor, and officially became Governor on April 7, 2003. He was reelected to a full 4-year term in the November 2004 elections. In the first round of elections on November 2, 2004, Tulafono received 48.4% of the vote. In the second round on November 16, Tulafono defeated Afoa Moega Lutu, who had run against him for the position of Lieutenant Governor in 2000, by a vote of 56%-44%. As Governor, Tulafano is a member of the National Governors Association and the Democratic Governors Association.

In July of 2006, Governor Tulafono issued a mandate to Hawaiian Airlines, giving the airline ninety days to cease service to Pago Pago International Airport in Pago Pago. The carrier, which offers the only service to American Samoa (beside commuter flights to Apia, in the country of Samoa), from its hub in Honolulu, was accused of predatory pricing practices and ethnic harrassment by the governor.

In August of 2006, the FAA stated in an official letter to the governor that the territory must continue to allow Hawaiian Airlines to fly the Honolulu-Pago Pago route or risk losing U.S. financial assistance.

External link

• Official website

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