He is originally from Fagaliʻi, American Samoa, but now resides in the village of ʻIliʻili.[4][3] Ale married his wife, Sakala Mautofu Ale, July 16, 1977, at a ceremony in Carson, California.[4] The couple had eleven biological children, as well as several other children the family had adopted and raised.[4] Both Savali Talavou Ale and Sakala Mautofu Ale were ordained deacons in the Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa (CCCAS).[4]
Savali was first elected to the American Samoa House of Representatives in the 1981 elections and won re-election from the 1980s and through the 2010s. The Speaker of the House appointed him Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, a position which allowed Savali to utilize his knowledge of commerce. Another of his committee assignments was to work on the review of the American Samoa Constitution.[5]
He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1981.[3][6] Ale, who has never lost re-election, has been re-elected to the House during each successive general election from the 1980s and 2010s,[3] making him the House's longest-serving member, as of 2015.[2]
Savali was challenged by Ituau Rep. Taotasi Archie Soliai for the Speakership in 2010, but Savali won re-election as Speaker.[6] Rep. Taotasi Archie Soliai once again challenged Savali for the position of Speaker of the 33rd legislature (2013–2015) in January 2013.[2] Ale defeated Soliai with a vote of 13-7.[2] Rep. Soliai was later defeated for re-election on November 4, 2014, in the general election.[2]
He was unanimously re-elected Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 34th Legislature on January 3, 2015.[2][3]
^ abcSunia, Fofō I. F. (1998). The Story of the Legislature of American Samoa: In Commemoration of the Golden Jubilee 1948-1998. Pago Pago, AS: Legislature of American Samoa. Page 273. ISBN9789829008015.