Lemanu Peleti Mauga

Peleti Mauga
Mauga in 2023
8th Governor of American Samoa
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2021
LieutenantSalo Ale
Preceded byLolo Matalasi Moliga
9th Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa
In office
January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2021
GovernorLolo Matalasi Moliga
Preceded byFaoa Aitofele Sunia
Succeeded bySalo Ale
Personal details
Born
Lemanu Palepoi Sialegā Mauga

(1960-01-03) January 3, 1960 (age 64)
Nuʻuuli, American Samoa, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
Pohakalani Mauga
​
​
(m. 1988; died 2016)​
Ella Failautusi
​
(m. 2018)​
EducationAmerican Samoa Community
College
University of Hawaii, Manoa
(BA)
San Diego State University
(MPA)
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
RankMajor
Battles/warsPersian Gulf War

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]

Early life and education

Mauga 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

Mauga 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

In 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

  1. ^ "Gov. Lemanu P. S. Mauga" – via nga.org.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Lemanu Sialega Mauga on track to be next American Samoa Governor". RNZ. 2020-11-05. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lemanu Peleti Mauga.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Lemanu Peleti Mauga.
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa
2013–2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of American Samoa
2021–present 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of American Samoa
2020, 2024 		Most recent