18 Nov 2004

Togiola Tulafono elected as governor of American Samoa

7:17 am on 18 November 2004

The incumbent governor and lieutenant governor of American Samoa have been returned to office after winning a run-off vote.

Togiola Tulafono and Aitofele Sunia secured 56 per cent of yesterday's vote.

They defeated Afoa Moega Lutu and Taeaoafua Dr. Meki Solomona who received 44 per cent.

This will be Togiola and Ipulasi's first full four year term in office.

Togiola moved up to the governor's seat from his position as lieutenant governor in April of last year after the governor Tauese Sunia died.

In the first round of voting on November 2nd none of the three teams got the 50 per cent share of the vote needed to win.

The unsuccessful team of Senators Teo J Fuavai and Alo Dr Paul Stevenson threw their support behind the Afoa Taeaoafua camp saying that both their platforms were for a change in government.

However it doesn't appear that the Afoa Taeaoafua team gained much from that endorsement.

In all but three of the 44 voting precincts, the incumbents gained more votes than earlier this month.

The governor and lieutenant governor will begin their new term on the third of January.