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 byLutu Moli
Succeeded byTuaolo 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
SpouseBetty Fritz
Children6
EducationUniversity of Hawaii, Manoa
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
RankCommand Sergeant Major

Early life

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Tofau 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

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Tofau 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

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Tofau 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

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  1. ^ "Senate President Gaoteote Palaie Tofau". www.samoanews.com. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  2. ^ "36th Legislature officially opens next Monday". www.samoanews.com. 2019-01-09. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  3. ^ "Gaoteote takes senate seat again". www.samoanews.com. 2016-10-31. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  4. ^ 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)
  5. ^ "Update: Senators Gaoteote & Fai'ivae team up for 2020 gubernatorial race". www.samoanews.com. 2020-02-09. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  6. ^ "Families of would be gubernatorial team Gaoteote & Faiivae meet". Talanei. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  7. ^ 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)
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ Kragen, Aubrey. "Meet Palaie Gaoteote IV". USC Athletics. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
Political offices
Preceded by President of the American Samoa Senate
2009–2021
Succeeded by