Tauese Sunia

Tauese Sunia
55th Governor of American Samoa
In office January 3, 1997 – March 26, 20031
Lieutenant	Togiola Tulafono
Preceded by	A.P. Lutali
Succeeded by	Togiola Tulafono
Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa
In office January 4, 1993 – January 3, 1997
Governor	A. P. Lutali
Preceded by	Galea'i Peni Poumele (died in July 1992)
Succeeded by	Togiola Tulafono
Personal details
Born	(1941-08-29)August 29, 1941 Fagatogo, American Samoa
Died	March 26, 2003(2003-03-26) (aged 61) En route to Hawaii
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Fagaoalii Satele Sunia
Children	Ten
1. Togiola Tulafono was Acting Governor from March 26–April 7, 2003

Tauese Tuailemafua Pita Fiti Sunia (August 29, 1941 – March 26, 2003) was the governor of American Samoa from 1997 until his death 2003.

Biography

He was a member of the Democratic Party. He won the election of 1996 in a close runoff with Lealaifuaneva Peter Reid (51%-48%). The runoff was caused by a split in the Democratic party in American Samoa between Sunia and incumbent governor Lutali Aifili Paulo Lauvao, who received third place, with no candidates gaining a majority. Sunia won another close victory against Reid in the 2000 election, 50%–48%, with no runoff.

During Sunia's term of office a protest was issued against Samoa, formerly named Western Samoa, for changing its official name to the shorter form. The official view in American Samoa is that such a form detracts from the Samoan identity of American Samoa, and public officials and documents from American Samoa still refer to Samoa as Western Samoa.

He died during his second term, on March 26, 2003, while on a flight to Hawaii for medical treatment.

External links

• Obituary
• Office of Insular Affairs obituary

Political offices
Preceded by A.P. Lutali	Governor of American Samoa 1997–2003	Succeeded by Togiola Tulafono
Preceded by Galea'i Peni Poumele Died in office July 1992	Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa 1993–1997