8 Nov 2012

American Samoa gubernatorial contender excited about run-off

4:15 pm on 8 November 2012

The leader of the team that won the most votes in American Samoa's gubernatorial election, Lola Matalasi Moliga, says he is excited to have polled higher than the team led by the former Lieutenant Governor, Faoa Aitofele Sunia.

None of the six teams vying in the 2012 gubernatorial race polled more than 50 percent of ballots cast in Tuesday's election so the top two Lolo and Lemanu Peleti Mauga and Faoa and Taufetee John Faumuina will battle it out in a run-off contest on November the 20th.

The provisional results gave Lolo and Lemanu 4,372 votes or 33.5 percent and Faoa and Taufetee 4,315 or 33.1 percent.

Lola says he's overwhelmed by the outcome.

"It's so hard to unseat the incumbent especially you know serving for so many years, for the last 10 or so years, it's really hard to unseat. But I'm happy, I'm excited, I'm looking forward to a good run-off and hopefully we can all get together to make a new change for our people."

Lolo Moliga says he appreciates the American Samoan public having given him the chance to run against Faoa Sunia.