Tauese Sunia
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2008-06-26T03:12:29Z
Perise
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{{Infobox_Governor
|name= Tauese Sunia
|image= GovSunia.jpg
|caption=
|order=41<sup>st</sup>
|office= Governor of American Samoa
|term_start= [[1997]]
|term_end=[[April 7]], [[2003]]<sup>1</sup>
|lieutenant= [[Togiola Tulafono]]
|predecessor= [[A.P. Lutali]]
|successor=[[Togiola Tulafono]]
|birth_date= {{birth date|1941|8|29|mf=y}}
|birth_place=
|death_date= {{death date and age|2003|3|26|1941|8|29|mf=y}}
|death_place= enroute to [[Hawaii]]
|spouse=
|profession=
|party= [[United States Democratic Party|Democrat]]
|footnotes= 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 [[United States Democratic Party|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.
==External links==
*[http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2003/03/28/american-samoa-mourns-death-of-governor-tauese-sunia Obituary]
*[http://www.doi.gov/oia/Islandpages/inmemorium.htm Office of Insular Affairs obituary]
{{start box}}
{{succession box|
title=[[List of American Samoa Governors|Governor of American Samoa]]|
before=[[A.P. Lutali]]|
after=[[Togiola Tulafono]]|
years=[[1997]]–[[2003]]|
}}
{{end box}}
{{ASGovernors}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sunia, Tauese}}
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths by myocardial infarction]]
[[Category:Governors of American Samoa]]
[[Category:Politics of American Samoa]]
[[pl:Tauese Sunia]]