Lolo Matalasi Moliga

Lolo Letalu Matalasi (born August 12, 1947)[3] is an American Samoan politician, educator, and businessman.[4][5] Moliga was elected Governor of American Samoa in the 2012 gubernatorial election.[6]

Lolo Matalasi Moliga
57th Governor of American Samoa
Assumed office
January 3, 2013
LieutenantLemanu Peleti Mauga
Preceded byTogiola Tulafono
Personal details
Born (1947-08-12) August 12, 1947
Tau, American Samoa, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (Before 2011;
2016–present)[1]
Independent (2011–2015)[2]
Spouse(s)Cynthia Malala
EducationChadron State College (BA)
San Diego State University
(MPA)
Signature

Early life and education

Moliga was born in Ta'u, Manu'a, American Samoa. His father was High Chief Moliga Sa'ena Aunuua Moliga, who was from Ta'u. His mother, Soali’i Galea’i, was a native of both Fitiuta and Olosega. He attended Papatea Junior Elementary and attended Samoana High School before graduating from Manu'a High School. Moliga holds a bachelor's degree in education from Chadron State College in Nebraska. He received a master's degree in public administration from San Diego State University on July 30, 2012.[7]

Career

Moliga began his career as a teacher.[5] He then became an elementary school principal before becoming the principal of Manu'a High School in the Manu'a Islands.[5] He would later become an elementary and secondary education administrator within the American Samoan Department of Education.[5] He also served as director of the ASG Budget Office, as well as American Samoa's chief procurement officer for two terms.[5] Outside of public office, Moliga owns a construction firm.[5]

Politics

Moliga was elected to the American Samoa House of Representatives for four terms.[5] He later became a Senator within the American Samoa Senate, where he served as the body's senate president from 2005 until 2008.[5] Moliga, while still a member of the Senate, considered a candidacy in the 2008 gubernatorial election, but withdrew from the race before announcing a potential running mate citing existing commitments.[5]

Moliga was appointed as president of the Development Bank of American Samoa by Governor Togiola Tulafono and confirmed by the Senate.[5]

2012 gubernatorial election
Main article: 2012 American Samoa gubernatorial election

In October 2011, Moliga became the second candidate to declare his intention to run in the 2012 gubernatorial election.[5] He chose Senator Lemanu Peleti Mauga as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa.[5] Mauga, a retired member of the U.S. Army, served as the chairman of both the Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Senate Homeland Security Committee in the American Samoan Senate.[5]

Moliga resigned as the president of the Development Bank of American Samoa (DBAS) to focus on his gubernatorial campaign.[5]

Moliga faced five other candidates in the 2012 gubernatorial election on November 6, 2012[6] and received the most votes, but not more than the 50% required to win. The runoff was held November 20, 2012, resulting in Moliga defeating Lieutenant Governor Faoa Aitofele Sunia.[8]

2016 gubernatorial election
Main article: 2016 American Samoa gubernatorial election

Moliga won re-election on November 8, 2016 with 60.2% of the vote, defeating Faoa Aitofele Sunia and Tuika Tuika.[9]

COVID-19 pandemic

On March 16, 2020, Moliga went into voluntary self-isolation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moliga had previously traveled to Seattle and Hawaii, which had experienced cases of COVID-19.[10]

gollark: A good* idea: instead of nonsense like "reactors", build a production plant capable of automatically making new uranium RTGs and building facilities for them.
gollark: Is off by default.
gollark: Ah, but you need infrastructure for that.
gollark: Most mods would just be "place magic box which magically makes magic power".
gollark: The trick to balance is to be like RotaryCraft and calculate all of the maths in extreme detail.

See also
  • List of current United States governors

References
  1. "American Samoa Governor Lolo Moliga". Democratic Governors Association. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  2. "American Samoa Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga". National Governors Association. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  3. "72nd birthday, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga". Samoa News. August 11, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  4. Marquis Who's Who
  5. Sagapolutele, Fili (October 19, 2011). "Lolo and Lemanu declare their candidacy for governor and lt. governor in the 2012 general election". Samoa News. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  6. "6 candidates vie to be American Samoa's governor". Real Clear Politics. Associated Press. September 4, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  7. Feagaimaalii-Luamanu, Joyetter (August 1, 2012). "Historic Double Cohort Yesterday Awards 51 Masters Degrees". Samoa News. Archived from the original on August 3, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  8. http://www.americansamoaelectionoffice.org/results
  9. "General Election 2016 Results Governor and Lt. Governor November 8, 2016 – Unofficial" (PDF). American Samoa Government – Election Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 16, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  10. "COVID-19: American Samoa governor self-isolates as a precaution". Radio New Zealand. March 16, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by
Togiola Tulafono		 Governor of American Samoa
2013–present		 Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by
Faoa Aitofele Sunia		 Democratic nominee for Governor of American Samoa
2016		 Most recent
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