Senate committee weighs the pros & cons of electing governor and lt. governor separately

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Senate Samoan Affairs Committee has tabled for further discussion and a future review — a proposed law, which seeks to elect the governor and lieutenant governor separately instead of as a gubernatorial team — as dictated by current law.

Committee chairman Sen. Muagututia Tauoa announced the decision at the conclusion of a hearing last week Thursday, with senators agreeing that more discussions, as well as public input, is needed on such an important issue.

The two ASG witnesses who testified on the Senate bill were Attorney General Fainuulelei Falefatu Alailima Utu and Chief Election Officer Uiagalelei Lealofi.

Samoa News notes that identical legislation has been debated in the Fono over the years but failed to get approved by lawmakers.

In his testimony, Fainuulelei said it’s important that these top two leaders in the Executive Branch work together and is perhaps the reason why our forefathers set in law the way both political positions are elected as a team.

As a cabinet member, it’s important that the governor and lieutenant governor work together because if they are elected separate, there is the chance that both the governor and lieutenant governor will have different views and opinions on important issues — not only over proposed laws to be submitted to the Fono but other matters of importance in the government, according to the Attorney General.

Fainuulelei cited examples where the governor and lieutenant governor worked together. He said that when the Lemanu-Talauega Administration took the helm of government in January 2021, it was very important that the governor and lieutenant governor agreed together to allow “repatriation” back home of residents stranded in the U.S. since border closure over COVID-19 restrictions.

He believes that the repatriation decision was not an easy one but it was done because the two leaders — as partners and as one team —  agreed and supported each other’s opinions on such an important issue.

Another example cited by Fainuulelei is raising of the minimum wage for the government workforce, from $5.20 per hour to $7.25 per hour. It was not an easy decision but both leaders, in their view decided that this was important for the workers.

And there were other matters of importance including working together with the Fono, he said, and noted that it’s important that the governor and the lieutenant governor present the same view and opinion to the Fono for the development and forward progress of the territory.

Uiagalelei informed senators that the Election Office acts independently on election issues and is prepared to carry out legislation that is enacted into law.

One of the two private residents who offered testimony is local businessman Jim McGuire who supports the bill saying that “having the independence of the number 2 man” — referring to the lt. governor — “will be an asset to the territory.”

 “I speak for the mass majority of people on this island who are afraid to come before” the Senate “because they feel that their thoughts are not being heard. The only time our thoughts are being heard is at election time.”

McGuire implored senators to consider the bill.

“Level the playing field by electing the governor and lieutenant governor separately, and it would give the community a better opportunity to have their feelings heard by our elected officials,” he said.

The second private resident, who testified, strongly opposed the legislation.

Several senators spoke about the proposal, saying that the bill is a chance to have further discussions on such as an important issue. Other senators suggested a hearing where the public can give their views and opinions. And many agreed that this is too important of an issue for the committee to rush a final decision, but further debate and discussion should continue.

Sen. Soliai Tuipine Fuimaono — the bill’s sponsor, who has been in the political game for many years — told senators that governors and Lt. governors in previous administration didn’t always work together. For example, the first Coleman Administration, followed by the first Lutali Administration. He said the governors didn’t work well together with their lieutenant governors.

He said that public views should be included in the discussion about this bill and a final decision on it shouldn’t be rushed. And this was echoed by other senators including Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean, who pointed out that it’s important to continue discussions on the proposed law.

Muagututia believes this issue should have been included in last year’s Constitutional Convention where the community would have their say. In the end, the bill was tabled in committee for future discussions.