Tufele Liamatua
| Tufele Liamatua | |
|---|---|
| 2nd Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa | |
|
In office January 3, 1978 – January 3, 1985 |
|
| Governor | Peter Tali Coleman |
| Preceded by | Office Created - 1st elected Lt. Governor |
| Succeeded by | Eni Faleomavaega |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 1940 |
| Died | October 13, 2011 (aged 71) Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Tofiga Tufele |
Tufele Faatoia Liamatua, also spelled Tufele Li'amatua, (September 1940 – October 13, 2011) was an American Samoan politician, businessman and paramount chief. He served as the first elected Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa under former Governor Peter Tali Coleman from 1978 to 1985.
The chiefly title of Tufele before Liamatua's name was bestowed on him by the village of Fitiuta in the Manu'a Islands. He was a paramount chief.
Tufele Liamatua was born in American Samoa. His 70th birthday gala was held on Saturday, September 4, 2010, at the Gov. H. Lee Auditorium. His wife, Tofiga, is a longtime nurse at LBJ Medical Center.
U.S. Rep. Phillip Burton of California introduced a Bill on June 10, 1976, in the U.S. House of Representatives to allow for the popular election of the Governor and Lt. Governor, rather than appointment by the Interior Secretary. The Bill passed the House by a 377–1 majority. American Samoa Governor Hyrum Rex Lee approved Public Law 15-23 on May 16, 1977, which called on the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to allow the direct election of the Governor and Lt. Governor. On September 13, 1977, the Department of the Interior issued Order No. 3009 which provided a "Provision for Elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor, and Creation of Office of Government Comptroller". This paved the way for American Samoa's first popular gubernatorial election in November 1977.
Peter Tali Coleman, who had previously served as appointed Governor during the 1950s, and his running mate, Tufele Liamatua, won the 1977 gubernatorial election on November 1, 1977, becoming the first directly elected Governor and Lt. Governor of American Samoa, respectively. Liamatua was inaugurated as Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa on January 3, 1978. Coleman and Liamatua successfully campaigned for a second full term in office in the 1980 gubernatorial election. Liamatua left office on January 3, 1985, and was succeeded by Eni Faleomavaega.
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