16 Jun 2015

Chief election officer in American Samoa returns to Senate

8:26 am on 16 June 2015

American Samoa's chief election officer Tuaolo Manaia Fruean is returning to the Senate after being selected by traditional leaders of the Pago Pago Village Council.

A former territorial senator, Tuaolo will fill the seat vacated by Mauga Asuaga, who became the Secretary of Samoan Affairs in April.

Tuaolo has previously served in the Senate for two consecutive four year terms, from 2001-2008.

In 2009 he served as police commissioner during the Togiola Administration and was selected in 2013 to serve as Chief Election Officer, in the first year of the Lolo Administration.

Tuaolo, who had served as an associate judge of the High Court before he retired from the bench, will now tender his resignation with the Lolo Administration as a cabinet director.

Under local statute, Tuaolo will serve out the remainder of Mauga's term, which officially ends before on January the 3rd, 2017.

The Fono is currently in recess and convenes on July the 13th.