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In the tradition of “fa’aaloalo,” Savali Talavou Ale selected as Speaker

reporters@samoanews.com

It appears that the House Speakership’s race, when the new 35th Legislature is sworn in come January next year, will have only one candidate, current House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale, who will  — for the second time — run unopposed.

And the consensus decision for Savali came at special meeting two weeks ago, where incumbent faipule along with faipule-elect were in attendance, according to information received by Samoa News early this week.

On Jan. 3, 2015, after the current House membership took the oath of office and it came time to elect the House Speaker, Savali became the only candidate. The House members unanimously endorsed him. Savali told lawmakers at the time that for the first time the House leader has been voted in unanimously without anyone opposing.

With no other candidate, all House members of the 34th Legislature received committee chairmanship posts as well as vice chair positions. However, in previous Legislative sessions where there was competition for the Speakership post, only those who supported the elected Speaker were given chairmen posts for committees.

For the meeting held two weeks ago, one incumbent lawmaker, who didn’t want to be identified by name, told Samoa News that the “meeting was peaceful and everyone’s heart was in the same place” and everyone in attendance — incumbents and faipule-elect — reached a general consensus for Savali to be the only candidate for Speaker when the House members, along with senators of the new 35th Legislature, are sworn into office at 12-noon on Jan. 3, 2017.

Another incumbent faipule, who also didn’t want to be named, told Samoa News that “I’m sure there are other veteran faipule who qualify for the Speakership post” but everyone in attendance truly believed and trusts that Savali will continue to be a good House leader in the next Legislative session.

Manu’a District No. 2 incumbent faipule Toeaina Faufano Autele, said the importance of the consensus decision to return Savali to the leadership post, shows that there will be no difference among lawmakers when it comes time for them to carry out their duties in the House.

Toeaina said that in the past, after the House leadership election, there are times when conflicts occurred between lawmakers who supported the elected leader and those who supported another candidate. And this gives the appearance that there are two different sides — or political parties — in the House but that’s not the case for American Samoa, he said, and noted that by reaching a consensus for Savali, there will be greater things happening in the upcoming Legislative session with lawmakers working together with the leader.

He also says that the consensus decision is a show of traditional respect, or fa’aaloalo, given to Savali. Toeaina said he is pleased and happy that lawmakers have decided on Savali.

Rep. Faimealelei Anthony Allen was the only person who wasn’t able to attend the meeting, because he was attending a meeting off island. Upon his return home last week, he was able to attend a second meeting, where he also expressed his support and gave his blessing to Savali. (Samoan story in Lali section of Wednesday’s Samoa News edition).

Following this year’s general election, 15-incumbents were returned to office including Savali who ran unopposed from Alataua County, and six new members were elected.

Savali, who hails from the village of Fagali’i, is currently the longest serving lawmaker in the Fono. He was first elected to the House in 1981.

After graduating from Leone High School, Savali moved to California where he attended Cannon’s College of Commerce, a two-year institution, where he studied Business Administration, according to the Fono Golden Jubilee Book.

He then attended California Baptist College where he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1977. Savali also attended summer programs at Oregon State University and the University of Hawaii.

Savali was a teacher at Leone High School, has also worked at the Tax Office and also served as supervisor for Van Camp Sea Food.

Samoa News reporters Ausage Fausia and Fili Sagapolutele contributed to this report.

In the tradition of “fa’aaloalo,” Savali Talavou Ale once again selected as Speaker

by Samoa News staff

It appears that the House Speakership’s race, when the new 35th Legislature is sworn in come January next year, will have only one candidate, current House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale, who will  — for the second time — run unopposed.

And the consensus decision for Savali came at special meeting two weeks ago, where incumbent faipule along with faipule-elect were in attendance, according to information received by Samoa News early this week.

On Jan. 3, 2015, after the current House membership took the oath of office and it came time to elect the House Speaker, Savali became the only candidate. The House members unanimously endorsed him. Savali told lawmakers at the time that for the first time the House leader has been voted in unanimously without anyone opposing.

With no other candidate, all House members of the 34th Legislature received committee chairmanship posts as well as vice chair positions. However, in previous Legislative sessions where there was competition for the Speakership post, only those who supported the elected Speaker were given chairmen posts for committees.

For the meeting held two weeks ago, one incumbent lawmaker, who didn’t want to be identified by name, told Samoa News that the “meeting was peaceful and everyone’s heart was in the same place” and everyone in attendance — incumbents and faipule-elect — reached a general consensus for Savali to be the only candidate for Speaker when the House members, along with senators of the new 35th Legislature, are sworn into office at 12-noon on Jan. 3, 2017.

Another incumbent faipule, who also didn’t want to be named, told Samoa News that “I’m sure there are other veteran faipule who qualify for the Speakership post” but everyone in attendance truly believed and trusts that Savali will continue to be a good House leader in the next Legislative session.

Manu’a District No. 2 incumbent faipule Toeaina Faufano Autele, said the importance of the consensus decision to return Savali to the leadership post, shows that there will be no difference among lawmakers when it comes time for them to carry out their duties in the House.

Toeaina said that in the past, after the House leadership election, there are times when conflicts occurred between lawmakers who supported the elected leader and those who supported another candidate. And this gives the appearance that there are two different sides — or political parties — in the House but that’s not the case for American Samoa, he said, and noted that by reaching a consensus for Savali, there will be greater things happening in the upcoming Legislative session with lawmakers working together with the leader.

He also says that the consensus decision is a show of traditional respect, or fa’aaloalo, given to Savali. Toeaina said he is pleased and happy that lawmakers have decided on Savali.

Rep. Faimealelei Anthony Allen was the only person who wasn’t able to attend the meeting, because he was attending a meeting off island. Upon his return home last week, he was able to attend a second meeting, where he also expressed his support and gave his blessing to Savali. (Samoan story in Lali section of Wednesday’s Samoa News edition).

Following this year’s general election, 15-incumbents were returned to office including Savali who ran unopposed from Alataua County, and six new members were elected.

Savali, who hails from the village of Fagali’i, is currently the longest serving lawmaker in the Fono. He was first elected to the House in 1981.

After graduating from Leone High School, Savali moved to California where he attended Cannon’s College of Commerce, a two-year institution, where he studied Business Administration, according to the Fono Golden Jubilee Book.

He then attended California Baptist College where he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1977. Savali also attended summer programs at Oregon State University and the University of Hawaii.

Savali was a teacher at Leone High School, has also worked at the Tax Office and also served as supervisor for Van Camp Sea Food.

Samoa News reporters Ausage Fausia and Fili Sagapolutele contributed to this report