They faced Utu Abe Malae and running mate Nua Mailo Saoluaga in a runoff election on Tuesday.
“God is good — all the time. God is great, every day,” Togiola told about 200 supporters at his campaign camp. “We won because American Samoa believed in our message that ‘family matters,’ ” he said.
Togiola asked for everyone’s support as the new administration prepares for its second and final term. He cannot run for a third term. For now, though, Togiola said, “it’s rest time.”
At his campaign headquarters, Utu thanked supporters for their hard work. He also thanked Tulafono for his successful bid for another four years in office.
“This has been a very great experience for me, a first time politician,” Utu said in an interview with Pacific Magazine. “I don’t feel sad about the outcome of the election. I am just happy and relaxed.
“This has been a wonderful experience for me. I was able to talk to so many people, so many families, during my visits to family homes in various villages,” he said. “I learned a lot from them and what they are going through.”
According to Radio New Zealand International, Togiola and Faoa led in nearly all of the 44 voting precincts by narrow margins but commanded a clear majority in the Eastern District villages were the governor is from.
Chief Election Officer Soliai T. Fuimaono said results are “unofficial” until the seven-day challenge period expires next week Tuesday.
Of the total 11,674 ballots counted, Togiola and Faoa received 6,590 votes, or 56.5 percent, while Utu and Nua received 5,084 votes, or 43.5 percent.
Togiola also won in 2004 in a runoff election. The results that year were similar to today’s result. In 2004, of the 11,498 ballots cast, Togiola received 6,407 votes while his challenger at the time, Afoa Moega Lutu, received 5,091 votes.
Togiola and Faoa will be sworn into office at 12 noon on Jan. 3, 2009.
