Gaoteote Palaie Tofau is an American Samoan politician serving as a member and president of the American Samoa Senate.[1][2] Tofau first took office in January 2004 after serving as a member of the American Samoa House of Representatives.[3]
Gaoteote Palaie Tofau | |
|---|---|
| President of the American Samoa Senate | |
| In office January 2009 – January 8, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Lutu Moli |
| Succeeded by | Tuaolo Fruean |
| Member of the American Samoa Senate from the 4th district | |
| Assumed office January 2004 | |
| Member of the American Samoa House of Representatives | |
| In office 1998–2002 | |
| Personal details | |
| Spouse | Betty Fritz |
| Children | 6 |
| Education | University of Hawaii, Manoa |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Rank | Command Sergeant Major |
Early life
editTofau was raised in Vatia, American Samoa. His father served as a member of the American Samoa Senate. After graduating from high school, Tofau attended University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa on a full scholarship sponsored by the Government of American Samoa.[4]
Career
editTofau served as a career member of the United States Army, retiring after 22 years as a Command Sergeant Major. Tofau eventually returned to American Samoa to care for his father. He worked at Tafuna High School in the ROTC program. In 1998, he was elected to the American Samoa House of Representatives, serving until 2002. From 2002 to 2004, he served as a special assistant to the Commissioner of Public Safety. In 2005, Tofau was elected to the American Samoa Senate. He was selected to serve as president of the senate in 2009.
In February 2020, Tofau announced his candidacy for governor in the 2020 American Samoa gubernatorial election. Tofau's running mate will be Faiivae Iuli Alex Godinet, a fellow member of the American Samoa Senate and president of the Football Federation American Samoa.[5][6]
Personal life
editTofau and his wife, Betty Fritz, have six children and 15 grandchildren. He is a member of the Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa.[7] One of Tofau's grandsons, Palaie Gaoteote IV, is an NCAA Division I college football player for the USC Trojans.[8][9]
References
edit- ^ "Senate President Gaoteote Palaie Tofau". www.samoanews.com. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
- ^ "36th Legislature officially opens next Monday". www.samoanews.com. 2019-01-09. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
- ^ "Gaoteote takes senate seat again". www.samoanews.com. 2016-10-31. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
- ^ FAIIVAE 2020, VOTE GAOTEOTE ma. "BIOGRAPHY | VOTE GAOTEOTE ma FAIIVAE 2020". VOTE GAOTEOTE ma FAIIVAE 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Update: Senators Gaoteote & Fai'ivae team up for 2020 gubernatorial race". www.samoanews.com. 2020-02-09. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
- ^ "Families of would be gubernatorial team Gaoteote & Faiivae meet". Talanei. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
- ^ FAIIVAE 2020, VOTE GAOTEOTE ma. "BIOGRAPHY | VOTE GAOTEOTE ma FAIIVAE 2020". VOTE GAOTEOTE ma FAIIVAE 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "No. 1 LB Palaie Gaoteote honors dad by receiving Army All-American Bowl jersey". USA TODAY High School Sports. 2017-11-15. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
- ^ Kragen, Aubrey. "Meet Palaie Gaoteote IV". USC Athletics. Retrieved 2020-07-06.