Posted on: Wednesday, April 9, 2003

New governor of American Samoa sworn in

Associated Press

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa — Togiola Talalelei A. Tulafono was sworn in Monday as American Samoa's new governor to fill the unexpired term of the late Gov. Tauese P.F. Sunia.

Tulafono, a lawyer and son of a church minister, had been lieutenant governor and became acting governor of the U.S. territory after Sunia died March 26 en route to Honolulu for medical treatment. Sunia's term expires Jan. 3, 2005. Services for Sunia were held at Central Union Church in Honolulu before his body was returned to American Samoa.

Tulafono, 56, is the fourth Samoan to lead American Samoa since the territory started electing its chief executives in 1977.

Territorial Chief Justice Michael Kruse administered the oath of office while three church ministers gave prayers of blessings at the one-hour ceremony at the government Executive Office Building attended by the Queen of Tonga Halaevalu Mataaho; Faleomavaega Eni, the U.S. territory's delegate to Congress; neighboring Samoa's minister of education, Fiame Naomi, and Gov. Juan Babauta of the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Tulafono gave only brief remarks, saying his address was not an inaugural because he is only filling in the 20 months left of Sunia's term. He pledged to continue what he said was an administration built on a foundation of love and integrity under Sunia since 1997.

Tulafono received his law degree from Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kan., and the National Judicial College in Reno, Nev. He has been a police officer, a District Court judge and a territorial senator.