Tellei garnered 196 votes against his opponent Kazuo Asanuma with 139 votes.
The Melekeok State has 577 registered voters. However, only 351 have cast their votes.
Tellei will serve the 18 months left of former Governor Lazarius Kodep term.
Kodep resigned from his post on March because of irregularities. He was sentenced to five years in imprisonment and fined of $10,000 because of his criminal charges
Kodep was accused of converting public funds to his own use on at least 100 occasions between 2003 and 2007.
As the new governor, Tellei’s platform for the next 18 months is to encourage development by supporting the newly created MEDA and Planning Commission, continue to protect the environment by allowing only environmentally friendly developments and to strike the balance of leadership by protecting traditional leaders and at the same time allow ordinary citizens to take active roles in their government.
Tellie was born on December 11, 1957. He’s married to Ruth Tellei and have three children. He is the son of Melekeok’s first governor and late Thomas Tellei.
Before won as the governor, Tellei is the field inspector for the Bureau of Public Works, head of Melekeok’s Ngaramecherocher group and chairman of Melekeok Memorial Day Committee. He’s also a Manager of Melekeok Softball team.
His swearing- in has yet to be announced by the Melekeok State Government.
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