This year’s Congressional race has just become more interesting with former Gov. Togiola Talalelei A. Tulafono announcing his candidacy as the territory’s Delegate to the U.S. House for the November 4th general election.

Togiola served as lieutenant governor when the Tauese Administration took office in January 1997. When the late Gov. Tauese P.F. Sunia passed away suddenly in March 2003, Togiola became governor in April that year.  His first four-year term as governor came following the elections of 2004, and he was re-elected in 2008.

When Togiola was finishing out his second term in 2012, there was much speculation in the community as to whether he would seek out the Congressional seat in this year’s election. Togiola said at the time that he had not made any decision when it came to his future in politics.

Asked yesterday why he is running for the Delegate seat, Togiola, who is 67 years old, said, “I feel that there is a need for a different look at the role of the Delegate to Congress as it relates to working with our leaders in American Samoa.”

“I feel that the vast experience that I have acquired during my 16 years of service — first as lieutenant governor and then governor — boasts well for representing the interest of American Samoa before Congress, dealing with the Office of the President and federal departments,” he told Samoa News yesterday.

Additionally, “my feeling is, we need to refocus cooperation” between the Office of the Delegate and territorial leaders and that the Delegate “must serve the supporting role” of the leaders, in serving the territory and her people.

“The Delegate must work hand-in-hand and collaborate with leaders of the territory, including in matters that come before the Fono... so that polices are consistent as to what we need for the territory” and in accordance with federal laws, he said.

In an open letter to the people of American Samoa announcing his candidacy Togiola said, “I am committed to renewing a better and closer working relationship between the Delegate in Washington and our local leaders.

“Assistance for American Samoa can be better determined and obtained through working together between the Delegate and our Leaders. But let me say, American Samoa, let us not dwell in the past. Let us ‘Look Forward and Move Upwards’. Let that be our pathway to the future,” he wrote. (See today’s edition printed elsewhere for full contents of the letter as a campaign advertisement)

With his candidacy now being made official, Samoa News asked Togiola as to his reaction to those who would now say that he will be going up against the long-time incumbent, Congressman Faleomavaega Eni.

“I’m not going against Faleomavaega. I’m offering myself as a better choice. I’m putting my name out there and for people to look at my experience and the work that I have done and what I can do if elected,” Togiola replied. “The focus ought to be the choices of the voters and I will go with what the majority of the voters decide on.”

Togiola plans to announce later other issues pertaining to his campaign.

The former governor now joins three other candidates — Tua’au Kereti Mata’utia Jr., Rosie Fuala’au Tago Lancaster and Meleagi Suitonu-Chapman — who have already officially announced their candidacies.