Tauese 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 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.
TauesePitaFitiSunia was born on August 29, 1941 and raised in the village of Fagatogo on the island of Tutuila where his father served as a minister for the Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa.
In the mid-1960's, American Samoa was in the midst of education via television and Tauese became the first Samoan television instructor and was subsequently appointed as Assistant Director of Education for Television Instruction and then as Assistant Director of Education for Administration.
TaueseSunia was elected Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa, serving in Governor A.P. Lutali's administration.
TauesePitaFitiSunia (August 29, 1941-March 26, 2003) was the governor of American Samoa from 1997 until his death.
TauesePitaFitiSunia (August 29, 1941 - March 26, 2003) was the governor of American Samoa from 1997 until his death.
Sunia was elected in 1996 and narrowly re-elected in 2000 with 50.7 percent of the vote, after serving as lieutenant governor under former Gov. A.P. Lutali from 1993 to 1996.
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