Togiola appoints transition team to provide recommendations
for “new administration”
After winning the November 18 run-off election against the team of Utu Abe Malae and Nua Mailo Saoluaga, incumbent Governor Togiola Tulafono announced that he has appointed a transition team that will review current ASG operations, as well as provide recommendations to the Governor’s Office on issues including the names of candidates to occupy Cabinet posts.
(The names of transition team members are yet to be revealed).
The current administration, which will be in control for the next four years, is a continuation of the past 12 years.
(Togiola served as Lt. Governor in 1997 under the Tauese administration and in 2003, when Tauese passed away in office, Togiola took over as Governor and appointed Faoa Sunia, Tauese younger brother, as his Lt. Governor).
And while the same administration will continue for the next four years, Togiola said he considers this a new administration, hence the appointment of the transition team, which is usually appointed if there is a change in government leadership.
Togiola said the transition team includes individuals who worked on his campaign, and their job will include carrying out a thorough review of government operations. Togiola said the transition team’s review may provide a different look and opinion to what he knows.
The transition team will also look at all the cabinet posts (appointees), other government leadership positions, as well as those serving in the Governor’s Office.
The Governor explained that the transition team will look for qualified people both in and out of government, scanning for individuals who are best suited for directorship and leadership posts, and identifying those people by name.
The transition team will provide a complete report with recommendations to the Governor. Until he receives a copy of such a report, Togiola said he will not make any cabinet appointments.
Togiola said local residents who believe that some cabinet members are no longer suitable for some posts should make a complete list of their concerns about the cabinet members in question, and submit it to the Governor’s Office because he would like to get input from the public.
Togiola said he believes there should be a big change in government in his last four years in office, and he wants those changes to be implemented for the betterment of American Samoa, for the future.
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