Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

American Samoa’s Lt Governor vies top job in next year’s election

Posted at 03:40 on 22 November, 2011 UTC

American Samoa’s Lieutenant Governor Faoa Aitofele Sunia has announced his candidacy for governor in next year’s general elections.

A former Director of Economic Development and CEO of LBJ Hospital Taufetee John Faumuina Junior will stand as his running mate.

Faoa is a lawyer by profession and has been the lieutenant to Governor Togiola Tulafono for more than eight years.

He is also a former treasurer to the government and chief counsel for the legislature.

Faoa had been charged by the federal government for defrauding it while he was treasurer but his case ended in a mistrial with the jury failing to agree.

A former president of the American Samoa Senate, Lolo Letalu Moliga, has also declared his candidacy with running mate Senator Lemanu Peleti Mauga.