Lolo Matalasi Moliga

Lolo Letalu Matalasi (born August 12, 1947)[3] is an American Samoan politician, educator, and businessman.[4][5] He served as the seventh governor of American Samoa, from 2013 to 2021.

Lolo Matalasi Moliga
Moliga in 2012
7th Governor of American Samoa
In office
January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2021
LieutenantPeleti Mauga
Preceded byTogiola Tulafono
Succeeded byPeleti Mauga
Personal details
Born (1947-08-12) August 12, 1947
Taʻū, American Samoa, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (before 2011, 2016–present)[1]
Independent (2011–2015)[2]
SpouseCynthia Malala
EducationChadron State College (BA)
San Diego State University
(MPA)
Signature

Early life and education

Moliga was born in Taʻū, 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.[6]

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[7] 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]

Democratic National Convention

The United States Department of Defense is investigating two masked, uniformed soldiers who joined Moliga when he appeared online during the 2020 Democratic National Convention because uniformed soldiers are not permitted to participate in partisan events.[11]

See also

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. 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.
  7. "6 candidates vie to be American Samoa's governor". Real Clear Politics. Associated Press. September 4, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  8. Election 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.
  11. Feldscher, Jacqueline. "Army investigating soldiers who appeared in DNC video". news.yahoo.com. Politico. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
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