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All four gubernatorial teams take part in ASBA forum

The teams (l-r] on stage: Sen. Fai’ivae Iuli Godinet, candidate for lieutenant governor and running mate candidate for governor, Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie; candidate for governor; Lt. Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga candidate for governor and Talauega Eleasalo Va’alele Ale for lieutenant governor; I’aulualo Fa’afetai Talia candidate for governor and Tapaau Dr. Dan Mageo Aga as lieutenant governor; and Tapumanaia Galu Satele Jr., for lieutenant governor and candidate for governor, Nuauaolefeagaiga Saol
fili@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The four gubernatorial teams for the Nov. 3, 2020 general election pose for a group photo after the American Samoa Bar Association (ASBA) gubernatorial forum last Thursday night at the Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium.

The teams (l-r] on stage: Sen. Fai’ivae Iuli Godinet, candidate for lieutenant governor and running mate candidate for governor, Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie; candidate for governor; Lt. Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga candidate for governor and Talauega Eleasalo Va’alele Ale for lieutenant governor; I’aulualo Fa’afetai Talia candidate for governor and Tapaau Dr. Dan Mageo Aga as lieutenant governor; and Tapumanaia Galu Satele Jr., for lieutenant governor and candidate for governor, Nuauaolefeagaiga Saoluaga Nua.

In her opening remarks, Bar Association president Lornalei Meredith commended the candidates “for your commitment, bravery, [and] love of country, reflected in your efforts to become the governor and lieutenant governor of American Samoa for the next four years. Where many of us have asked, what our country has done for us, your efforts exemplify the attitude of what one can do for their country.”

She explained that questions for the forum were collected from members of the Association. After reviewing and vetting these questions, 13 questions were forwarded to the candidates for their preparations.

“As much as we would like to hear the answers to all these questions,” she fore-warned the audience and candidates that it’s not likely that there was going to be enough time to ask all 13 questions. She explained that the candidates were told in advance that they could be asked any of these questions and to prepare accordingly.

“The Bar Association has traditionally put on these gubernatorial forums as a service to the community,” she explained. “We believe it is important for voters to be educated and informed as much as possible about the candidates.”

The next ASBA forum is set for Oct. 7th at the American Samoa Community College multi purpose center.

For last Thursday night’s forum lasted about two hours in which seven questions — covering various issues — were asked of the gubernatorial teams and each team was given a time-limit to respond, either in Samoan or English. The teams also had the option of either one or both candidates giving a reply — and this was the case for some of the questions.

(See Samoa News edition tomorrow for the first question and the candidates’ responses.)