Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Meleagi Suitonu-Chapman, one of the many American Samoans stranded off-island after ASG’s COVID-19 emergency declaration shut down borders, has declared herself as a candidate for American Samoa’s U.S. Delegate’s seat.

This is her fourth time to run for this office.

She is the daughter of the late Rev. Elder Suitonu of Fitiuta-Leusoali’i and Tinei (So’otuli) Lei’ataua Avegalio Eseese Suitonu, born in Manono, Samoa and raised in the Village of Amanave. Her maternal grandparents were Avegalio Eseese of Apia and Leone, and Elisa Lei'ataua Avegalio Eseese of Manono, Amanave and Leone.

According to Suitonu-Chapman, she and her husband James have been happily retired in Fitiuta-Leusoali’I since 2001 after she served in the federal government for two decades.

In a recent email from San Diego, CA where the couple is waiting to return to American Samoa she offered this information for other’s who are in the same situation:

Those travelers from the Mainland to HNL waiting to catch the connecting flight to PPG should email: covidexemption@hawaii.gov. This is Gov Ige's CV agency. And what the recipient needs to do is to share their HA flight itinerary whatever state they are coming in from. They need to enter the Passport exact name(s) and number. Within 48 hours they will get a response from covidexemption@hawaii.gov, an email with the date of that their HA flight, exempting them from the 14 days exemption because they are not leaving the airport. Print this response up and have it on hand.

She told Samoa News that she had never expected to be gone from the territory this long after they traveled to California for her husband, James’, VA Cancer and Diabetes II medical checkups late last year.  Since the pandemic, she said, “James and I are CV19 vigilant. We get a monthly free CV19 Test done. We have Grandchildren and want to be safe when we do get to be close.”

Meleagi Suitonu-Chapman says she wears a mask and social distances, not only for herself but to keep others safe. [courtesy photo]

She told Samoa News she is anxious to return and is currently booked for Aug. 6.  “I look forward to talking with the voters of American Samoa, and I humbly ask for your trust in the dedicated and hard work that my team and I know we can, and will do for you, your children, and your children’s children, our Veterans, and our Government in Congress and Washington, DC.

This brings to four the number of candidates for the delegate’s seat who have obtained nominating petitions.  In addition to Meleagi Suitonu-Chapman are Oreta Tufuga Mapu Crichton, Supply Lealofi Seau and incumbent Aumua Amata Radewagen.

Candidates have until September 1 to file their petitions with the required number of signatures and pay the filing fee, which is $500.