A former educator and a deacon is throwing her name in the hat for faipule for Tuala-tai district in the upcoming election. She is Taumanupepe Fa’afetai Maiavatele Hunkin Seumanu. The retired former manager of the School Lunch Program and public school teacher says running for faipule has always been in the back of her mind since her retirement in 2008. Taumanupepe says her main aim for entering politics is to improve the standard of living for people in her district and feels being a House Representative is a good start in achieving that goal. Play Audio
Taumanupepe’s campaign slogan is “Fia Tautua Mo Oe, Lo’u Itumalo,” I Want To Serve You My District. The mother of six and grandmother of 8 holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science from Arizona State University. She graduated from Leone High School and taught at her Alma mater as well as Samoana and Tafuna high schools. She was a health specialist at Public Health and certified nutritionist who headed the Department of Education’s School Lunch Program at the time of her retirement. Taumanupepe is also a deacon of the Vailoa, Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa. Saying she will seek out the needs of her district, she herself feels there should be better roads and more street lights in Tuala-tai. She plans to promote village cleanliness. On the territorial level, some of her goals are to promote the use of the Samoan language and push students to attain higher education. Play Audio
