The team of Lt. Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga, candidate for governor, and running mate, Talauega Eleasalo Va’alele Ale, candidate for lieutenant governor, won the gubernatorial race during the general election according to the unofficial results.

The unofficial results were released with a total of 11,861 ballots counted with Lemanu and Talauega receiving almost 61% of the votes.

Local law states a special or run-off election is held two weeks after the general election if none of the candidates received 50% plus one vote.

There is a seven-day waiting period before the chief election officer certifies the results as official.

The Senate and House gave final approval to the House version of a bill enacting a temporary funding gap appropriation for the government before ending the special session.

The House version of the bill has been enrolled and transmitted to Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga for his review and consideration.

The bill also provides consolidated appropriations and temporary funding to continue government operations until action on regular appropriations are completed.

American Samoa lawmakers returned Monday for an additional 15-day special session.

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga extended the session with the only issue on the agenda to revisit the final fiscal year 2021 budget.

The governor remains opposed to the $6.5 million in drastic cuts made by the Fono to the budgets for executive branch departments.

The Fono leaders had told the governor in an October 13th letter they are not confident with governor’s revenue projections.

They further urged the governor to act on the final fiscal year 2021 budget bill now in his control.

The Fono returned the final fiscal year 2021 budget to Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga and adjourned the special session.

However, no changes were made to the budget.

Gov. Lolos was unhappy with the $6.50 million in budget cuts and called the special session to reconsider the budget.

The Fono convened in a joint session on Monday and reached a majority vote for no changes to be made to the budget passed last week.

The budget was sent back to the governor.

This time it was accompanied by a letter of explanation from Senate President Gaoteote Palaie Tofau and House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale.

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has called a special session of the Fono to convene on Monday, October 5, with the main agenda to revisit the fiscal year 2021 budget.

The special session is set to last for up to 15 days.

Gov. Lolo would like the Fono to submit a budget compliant with established policies and procedures.

A special election to fill a vacancy in the American Samoa House of Representatives will be held on Tuesday October 24, 2017.

Puleleliite Tufele Liamatua Jr. resigned over the summer to become the executive director of the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority.

Voters will cast ballots to fill the District No. 5, Sua 1 seat of the 21-person body.

On April 19, American Samoa Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga signed an executive order creating the Office of Political Status, Constitutional Review and Federal Relations. The office was established to collaborate with the Legislature and Judiciary on constitutional amendments or other political status issues that may be presented as referendums to the voters of American Samoa in the November 2016 general elections or the elections in 2018, according to the Samoa News.

Issues facing the unincorporated territory of the United States include those of self-determination, citizenship with the United States, and immigration. The U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs awarded American Samoa $300,000 in technical assistance funds help create the office, according to Talanei.com.

Tuaolo Manaia Fruean, the acting director of the American Samoa Election Office, is resigning in order to become a territorial senator. Fruean was selected by traditional leaders of the Pago Pago Village Council to fill the seat vacated by Mauga Asuaga, according to Radio New Zealand. Asuaga became the secretary of Samoan Affairs in April.

On March 20, a special election will be held for the American Samoa House of Representative seat left vacant by the death of Lemapu Suiaunoa Talo.

Lemapu, who had been in office for four years, ran in the November general election opposed by only one candidate, according to Marianas Variety. The deadline to file as a candidate for the office is February 6.

On November 13, the official election results for American Samoa confirmed Republican Aumua Amata won the congressional race over the incumbent Democrat, Congressman Eni Hunkin Faleomavaega. According to SamoaNews.com, of the 10,246 votes cast, Amata received 4,306 to Faleomavaega’s 3,157 votes. Faleomavaega has served 13 terms as the territory’s delegate to the U.S. Congress.

Amata, who is the first female delegate from American Samoa, begins her term in the nonvoting position when the new Congress convenes on January 3, 2015.