Tauese Sunia
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Tauese Sunia
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| In office 1997 – April 7, 20031 |
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| Lieutenant | Togiola Tulafono |
| Preceded by | A.P. Lutali |
| Succeeded by | Togiola Tulafono |
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| Born | August 29, 1941 |
| Died | March 26, 2003 (aged 61) en route to Hawaii |
| Political party | Democratic |
| 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. He died during his second term, on March 26, 2003, while on a flight to Hawaii for medical treatment. 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.
Governor Tauese was well-renowned for his oratorical skill and astute memory as well as his charismatic personality. He is the son of Reverend Elder Fiti & Savali Sunia. Governor Tauese is also the nephew of former Prime Minister of Samoa, Tofilau Eti Alesana, brother of current Lt. Governor Ipulasi Sunia & former Congressional Representative Fofo Sunia and cousin of Rep. Eni Hunkin. He was married to the former Fagaoalii Satele Sunia of Vailoa, American Samoa.
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| Preceded by A.P. Lutali |
Governor of American Samoa 1997–2003 |
Succeeded by Togiola Tulafono |
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