Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Acting Chairman of the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA) Board of Directors, Saena Omar Shalhout, has stepped down from his position to concentrate on his campaign for a seat in the House of Representatives.

In a resignation letter submitted to Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula on September 25, Shalhout announced that his decision was effective immediately.

According to the letter, the decision came after careful reflection and prayer as he weighed his responsibilities as both Acting Chairman and member of the ASTCA Board.

“After careful consideration and praying for the appropriate decision on my status as the Acting Chair of the ASTCA Board and as a Board member, I have decided to resign effective immediately,” Shalout wrote.

Shalhout outlined his years of service to the telecommunications authority, noting that he served on the ASTCA Board from 2018 through 2023. He was later reappointed to the Board on July 31, 2025, and again on September 10, 2026.

He expressed gratitude to Governor Pulaali’i for the confidence placed in him, both as a board member and as Acting Chairman. He also thanked the governor for reappointing the board and allowing its members to continue serving the territory.

While explaining the reasons behind his resignation, Shalhout pointed to the demands of the ongoing midterm election campaign for the Maoputasi No. 4 House seat, which includes the villages of Leloaloa, Atu’u, and Satala.

He noted that the board selected on September 10, 2026, has not yet held its first meeting and expressed hope that another member would step forward to assume the chairmanship.

“With this year’s midterm election, I am one of the official candidates and would like to prioritize my daily focus on outreach efforts and engagement with residents in the district,” he stated.

Shalhout said he remains confident that ASTCA will continue moving forward under new leadership. He praised the board’s work and said the authority is well-positioned to build upon its existing achievements while advancing projects aimed at strengthening telecommunications services and supporting economic diversification in American Samoa.

He concluded his letter by thanking the governor for what he described as the privilege of serving the territory through ASTCA.

“I look forward to seeing the continued progress and impact of ASTCA in the years to come,” he wrote.

Saena Omar Shalhout is one of four candidates seeking election to represent Maoputasi No. 4 District in the House of Representatives. The race also includes Talali Perry T. Loloaso, Wightman-Uia Tapai Alailepule, and incumbent Representative Ben Vaivao, setting up a competitive contest for the district seat in the upcoming election.