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Fofō Iosefa Fiti Sunia

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Fofō Sunia
Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives
from American Samoa's at-large district
In office
January 3, 1981 – September 6, 1988
Preceded byHimself (Delegate at-large)
Succeeded byEni Faleomavaega
Delegate at-large of American Samoa
In office
January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1981
Preceded byA. P. Lutali
Succeeded byHimself (Delegate)
Personal details
Born
Iosefa Fiti Sunia[1]

(1937-03-13) March 13, 1937 (age 87)
Fagasā, American Samoa
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseAioletuna V. (Ta’amū) Sunia[2]
ChildrenEight
EducationUniversity of Hawaiʻi (BA)

Fofō Iosefa Fiti Sunia (born March 13, 1937) was the first non-voting Delegate from American Samoa to the United States House of Representatives. He was born in Fagasā, Pago Pago, and attended the University of Hawaiʻi.

He is currently a resident of Pago Pago.

Early life and career

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Fofō Iosefa Fiti Sunia was born March 13, 1937, in Fagasā. Sunia was the administrative officer for the Samoan affairs-liaison functions for the Governor of American Samoa, and served as a translator and interpreter and an election commissioner from 1961 to 1966. He founded the Samoan News newspaper in 1964 and became director of tourism for the Government of American Samoa in 1966, serving until 1970. Sunia was elected a territorial Senator in 1970 and was a member of the legislature until 1978. He also formerly served as president and chairman of the American Samoan Development Corporation.[2]

Congress

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He was elected to Congress in 1980. He served from January 3, 1981 until his resignation on September 6, 1988, after he was indicted on federal charges of running a payroll padding scheme. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five to fifteen months in prison and to pay $65,000 in restitution.[3][4][5][6]

Political views

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As a Delegate to the U.S. Congress, Sunia opposed a Constitutional amendment which would have made English the official language of the United States. He argued that English already is the language of the U.S. and the law represented few if any changes to the status quo. He was quoted for saying: "… the 35,000 American Samoans on the island use the Samoan language in government, in the court, in business and in all facets of daily living, but strive to improve their proficiency in English." He did not believe the proposed amendment would reward "linguistic differences as an asset."[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Gup, Ted (April 25, 1982). "American Somoa's Man in Congress". Washington Post. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Kowalewski, Albin J., ed. (December 22, 2017). "Fofó I. F. Sunia (1937–)". Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in Congress 1900–2017 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: United States House of Representatives. pp. 412–417. ISBN 9780160943683. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  3. ^ Long, Kim. "The Almanac of Political Corruption, Scandals & Dirty Politics, (2008). ISBN 0307481344.
  4. ^ "Ex-Delegate for Samoa Faces Prison Term". The New York Times. 5 October 1988.
  5. ^ "Ex-Samoa Rep. In Congress Jailed in Fraud". Los Angeles Times. 4 October 1988.
  6. ^ "Samoan Ex-Delegate Sunia Sentenced." October 5, 1998. Washington Post: page 2.
  7. ^ Shumway, Norman D. and Fofō I.F. Sunia (1985). "Should English Be the Official U.S. Language? (Pro and Con)." The American Legion 118, page 13.
[edit]
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Delegate at-large of American Samoa
1979–1981 		Succeeded by
Himself
as U.S. Delegate
Preceded by
Himself
as Delegate at-large of American Samoa 		Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives
from American Samoa's at-large congressional district
1981–1988 		Succeeded by
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