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Two former Senators take up post as new District Governors

Two former senators have been appointed by their respective traditional leaders to be their new district governors, while Manu’a District Governor Misaalefua J. Hudson has retained another four-year term for the same post.

Local law states that district governors are appointed by the governor after he receives and considers the recommendations of the respective local district councils as to who should be the appointed district governor, who serve a term of four years.

The Eastern and Manu’a districts selected their district governors last month while the Western District made their decision this week. 

The district governors as well as the newly appointed county chiefs and other county officials will take the oath of office today during a ceremony at the Office of Samoan Affairs.

WESTERN DISTRICT

Traditional leaders and county councils for the Western District convened Wednesday afternoon to select their district governor during a meeting that was presided over by out-going District Governor Satele Galu T. Satele Jr., who was appointed last week to the cabinet post of Secretary of Samoan Affairs by Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga.

Yesterday morning Satele told Samoa News that former senator Lualemaga Faoa is the new district governor. Lualemaga, who contacted Samoa News yesterday, confirmed his selection, saying that he looks forward to the new post to serve the people of American Samoa.

Lualemaga, a retired Associate Judge, represented Leasina county in the Senate during the last four years, and was chairman of the Senate Investigative Committee that probed among other issues, the federally funded Section 1602 for the construction of low income housing.

Lualemaga is still working on finalizing the SIC report from the 1602 program, which is administered by the Development Bank of American Samoa, headed by then bank president Lolo, who had accused SIC and Lualemaga of being on a witch-hunt for probing the program that benefited the territory with millions of dollars. 

EASTERN DISTRICT

The county councils for the Eastern District convened last month in a meeting presided over by Sen. Mauga T. Asuega at Mauga’s Guest Fale in Pago Pago, to decide the next District Governor for the post that was held by Gaoteote Tapatonu, who requested another chance as district governor.

It was noted during the meeting that in accordance with traditional protocol this post is rotated among the counties’ ranking traditional leaders, according to information received by Samoa News from the meeting.

Mauga gave the final traditional remarks and said that he was making the decision for Ituau county traditional leaders to select the next district governor. Ituau decided on former senator Alo Dr. Paul Stevenson, who served for eight years in the Senate   for Ituau.

Alo is a long time businessman and educator and was chairman of the Senate Education Committee over the last four years.

MANU’A DISTRICT

Misaalefua, who had served in the post in the last four years, was again selected by Manu’a traditional leaders, who gathered in Tafuna last month for their meeting. Misaalefua, who was selected by the counties of Ofu, Olosega and Sili to be their candidate, told Samoa News that he is very thankful to be given this opportunity again.

The only other candidate for the post presented at the meeting was out-going Secretary of Samoan Affairs, Lefiti Atiulagi Pese, who was nominated by the counties of Ta’u, Fitiuta and Faleasao.

Source: Le Lali