Tauese Sunia 726782 221791344 2008-06-26T03:12:29Z Perise 7375356 {{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]]&ndash;[[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]]&ndash;[[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]]