Director of Education, Vaitinasa Dr. Salu Hunkin Finau, is resigning from her cabinet position to concentrate on her campaign for Congress.
She announced her resignation at today’s cabinet meeting.
In the 2012 gubernatorial election, Vaitinasa was one of the contenders for the governor’s seat, and her running mate was Utualii Iuniasolua Savausa.
She was picked by the winners of the race, now Governor Lolo Moliga and Lt. Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga, to be the Director of Education, while her running mate was named director of Homeland Security.
She announced last month that she will be challenging Aumua Amata for American Samoa’s seat to Washington, a seat that was held by Vaitinasa’s older brother, Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin, for many years.
Today, Vaitinasa thanked Governor Lolo and cabinet for their support during her tenure as DOE Director and asked for their blessings in her quest for Congress.
Her last day on the job is tomorrow and she will also hold a final press conference before being farewelled by the department’ she has headed for the last four years.
At the cabinet meeting, Vaitinasa, in response to a request from the governor shared her experience as a member of the American Samoa Democratic Party delegation who attended the National Democratic Convention in Philadelphia.
She called being at the DNC “an experience of a lifetime” and said she would highly recommend it to anyone when given the opportunity.
She said what she grasped from the convention is the power of sheer numbers of people, united in oneness.
She was also in awe of how well the event was organized even with a crowd of 20,000 who filled the arena.
Vaitinasa said her attendance has given her more courage to tackle her battle for Congress.
