Lemanu Palepoi Sialegā Mauga (born January 3, 1960)[1] is an American Samoan politician who is serving as the eighth governor of American Samoa since January 3, 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, Mauga served as a senator in the American Samoa Senate, where he became the chairman of both the Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Senate Homeland Security Committee.[2]
Peleti Mauga | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Mauga in 2023 | |
| 8th Governor of American Samoa | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2021 | |
| Lieutenant | Salo Ale |
| Preceded by | Lolo Matalasi Moliga |
| 9th Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa | |
| In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2021 | |
| Governor | Lolo Matalasi Moliga |
| Preceded by | Faoa Aitofele Sunia |
| Succeeded by | Salo Ale |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Lemanu Palepoi Sialegā Mauga January 3, 1960 Nuʻuuli, American Samoa, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Pohakalani Mauga
(m. 1988; died 2016)Ella Failautusi (m. 2018) |
| Education | American Samoa Community College University of Hawaii, Manoa (BA) San Diego State University (MPA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Rank | Major |
| Battles/wars | Persian Gulf War |
Early life and education
editMauga was born in Nuʻuuli, American Samoa. After attending the American Samoa Community College, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He received a master's degree in public administration from San Diego State University on July 30, 2012, a graduation ceremony held at the Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium in American Samoa.[3]
Career
editMauga served in the U.S. military for more than 20 years, including in the Gulf War and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars before he retired with the rank of major.[2] Following his retirement, Mauga became the director of Army Instructions and continued to work with American Samoa's JROTC.[2]
Mauga also became the chief property manager for the Government of American Samoa's office of property management.[2] He became an American Samoan Senator in 2009.[2]
Politics
editIn October 2011, gubernatorial candidate Lolo Letalu Matalasi Moliga picked Mauga as his running mate for lieutenant governor of American Samoa in the forthcoming 2012 gubernatorial election on November 6, 2012.[2] Mauga was Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa from 2013 to 2021.
In the 2020 American Samoa gubernatorial election, Mauga and his running mate Talauega Eleasalo Ale were elected governor and lieutenant governor respectively. Mauga assumed the office in January 2021.[4]
In the 2024 American Samoa gubernatorial election, Mauga and his running mate Talauega Eleasalo Ale sought re-election but were ultimately defeated by Pulaali'i Tuiteleleapaga Iuli Nikolao Pula and Pulu Ae Ae Jr. in the runoff.
References
edit- ^ "Gov. Lemanu P. S. Mauga" – via nga.org.
- ^ a b c d e f Sagapolutele, Fili (2011-10-19). "Lolo and Lemanu declare their candidacy for governor and lt. governor in the 2012 general election". Samoa News. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
- ^ Feagaimaalii-Luamanu, Joyetter (2012-08-01). "Historic Double Cohort Yesterday Awards 51 Masters Degrees". Samoa News. Archived from the original on 2012-08-03. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
- ^ "Lemanu Sialega Mauga on track to be next American Samoa Governor". RNZ. 2020-11-05. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
External links
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