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 (1937-03-13) March 13, 1937
Pago Pago, American Samoa, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Hawaii, Manoa (BA)

Fofó 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.

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.

Sunia was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives, and 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.[1][2][3][4]

He is currently a resident of Pago Pago.

Political views

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.”[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Long, Kim. "The Almanac of Political Corruption, Scandals & Dirty Politics, (2008). ISBN 0307481344.
  2. ↑ "Ex-Delegate for Samoa Faces Prison Term". The New York Times. 5 October 1988.
  3. ↑ "Ex-Samoa Rep. In Congress Jailed in Fraud". Los Angeles Times. 4 October 1988.
  4. ↑ “Samoan Ex-Delegate Sunia Sentenced.” October 5, 1998. Washington Post: page 2.
  5. ↑ Shumway, Norman D. and Fofo I.F. Sunia (1985). "Should English Be the Official U.S. Language? (Pro and Con)." The American Legion 118, page 13.
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