Togiola Tulafono
726773
191265591
2008-02-13T22:22:54Z
202.70.115.138
/* Early life */
{{Infobox_Governor
|name= Togiola Tulafono
|image= Togiola Tulafono.jpg
|imagesize=
|caption=
|order=42<sup>nd</sup>
|office= Governor of American Samoa
|term_start= [[April 7]], [[2003]]
|term_end=
|lieutenant= [[Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia]]
|predecessor= [[Tauese Sunia]]
|successor=Incumbent
|birth_date= {{birth date and age|1947|02|28}}
|birth_place= [[Aunuu Island]],<br>[[American Samoa]]
|death_date=
|death_place=
|spouse= Mary Ann Tulafono
|profession= [[Attorney]], [[United States federal judge|Judge]]
|party= [[United States Democratic Party|Democrat]]
|religion=[[Congregationalism|Congregationalist]]
|footnotes=<sub>1</sub> Tulifono was Acting Governor from [[March 26]]–[[April 7]], [[2003]]
}}
'''Togiola Talalelei A. Tulafono''' (born [[1947]]) is the [[Governor]] of [[American Samoa]]. He is a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]. He had previously served as [[lieutenant governor|Lieutenant Governor]], since January [[1997]] . He was Lieutenant Governor when, on [[March 26]], [[2003]], Governor [[Tauese Pita Fiti Sunia]] died. Tulifono became [[acting governor|Acting Governor]], and officially became Governor on [[April 7]], [[2003]]. He was reelected to a full 4-year term in the November [[2004]] elections. In the first round of [[election]]s on [[November 2]], 2004, Tulafono received 48.4% of the vote. In the [[runoff election|second round]] on [[November 16]], Tulafono defeated [[Afoa Moega Lutu]], who had run against him for the position of Lieutenant Governor in [[2000]], by a vote of 56%-44%. As Governor, Tulafano is a member of the [[National Governors Association]] and the [[Democratic Governors Association]].
==Early life==
Tulafono was schooled in Samoa and the United States, graduating in Political Science and Sociology from [[Chadron State College]] in Nebraska in 1970 and then studying law at [[Washburn University]] School of Law in [[Kansas]]. He then pursued a career of law, business and politics in American Samoa, becoming Governor in 2004. <ref>[http://www.asg-gov.net/001GOVERNORSPAGE.htm government job contract federal state at asg-gov.net<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==The dispute with Hawaiian Airlines==
In July 2006, Governor Tulafono issued a mandate to [[Hawaiian Airlines]], giving the airline ninety days to cease service to [[Pago Pago International Airport]] in [[Pago Pago]]. The carrier, which offers the only service to American Samoa (beside commuter flights to [[Apia]], in the country of [[Samoa]]), from its hub in [[Honolulu]], was accused of predatory pricing practices and ethnic harassment by the governor.<ref>[http://starbulletin.com/2006/07/29/news/story05.html starbulletin.com | News | /2006/07/29/<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In August 2006, the [[FAA]] stated in an official letter to the governor that the territory must continue to allow Hawaiian Airlines to fly the Honolulu-Pago Pago route or risk losing U.S. financial assistance.<ref>[http://starbulletin.com/2006/08/05/business/story03.html starbulletin.com | Business | /2006/08/05/<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==See also==
[[List of current heads of government of dependencies]]
==External links==
*[http://americansamoa.gov/gov_office/gov_office.htm Official website]
{{start box}}
{{incumbent succession box|
before=[[Tauese P. Sunia]]|
title=[[List of American Samoa Governors|Governor of American Samoa]]|
start=2003|
}}
{{end box}}
{{ASGovernors}}
{{Current U.S. governors}}
{{American Samoa}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tulafono, Togiola}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Politics of American Samoa]]
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