Senators voted overwhelmingly, Tuesday morning, to reject the Governor’s nomination of Kenneth Kuaea as Chief Procurement Officer. Only two senators voted in support of Kuaea, while 13 opposed his nomination.
Meanwhile, Senators approved Tanya Ma’o Aab as Director of the Department of Administrative Services and Utumoe Alefosio as Director of the department of Search and rescues. The vote was 15-0 for both nominees.
Ma’o Aab is now fully confirmed. She was approved by the House of Representatives last week.
House confirms DHR Director
The House of Representatives confirmed Titiaoalii Dr. Asenati Saau-Umi as Director of the Department of Human Resources by unanimous vote, 16-0. At her confirmation hearing before the House Government Operations Committee, chaired by Rep. Faimealelei Anthony Allen, representatives spoke highly of the nominee’s academic credentials and her service to the American Samoa Government.
Titiaoalii worked for the Department of Education from 2002 up to 2020, beginning as an elementary school teacher then becoming principal, before being assigned to the DOE Division responsible for the Juvenile Detention Center—where she supervised and taught elementary schools students in the center. She joined the Department of Human Resources as Chief of Personnel Division in 2021, and in 2023 became the Chief of DHR’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Division.
She has a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Northcentral University, a Master of Education in Curriculum Studies from the University of Hawaii, Manoa, and a Bachelor of Education in Curriculum Studies also from UH, Manoa.
Manu’a Representative Vala Porotesano Liusamoa asked Titiaoalii why she made the switch from DOE to the Department of Human Resources after so many years.
She said that while she was school principal, she was transferred to the central office of DOE. At the time, when she was studying for a doctorate in organizational leadership, a vacancy for Chief of Personnel in DHR was advertised, and she felt it was time to make a change and make use of her new academic credentials.
Saole faipule Dr. Vaosa Simanu was thankful that a mother from her district of Saole had been chosen to lead DHR. Simanu said she has known Titiaoalii from the time she was at DOE, and Titiaoalii had supported her campaign for faipule.
Rep. Titioalii Sai asked the nominee if she had advised the Acting Director of Commerce to remove employees. She replied that DHR did not receive a recommendation for termination of the employees. An inquiry was made about the employment status of the employees, but there was no mention of termination. Though no names were mentioned, it was clear that the employees referred to are the two assistant directors of DOC, Victor Tuiasosopo and Michael McDonald.
Rep. Larry Sanitoa questioned the acting director about the appointment of Executive Advisors in the Governor’s Office and whether DHR was involved in the hiring of EAs and setting their qualification and compensation. Her response was no. She said the Governor appoints the EAs.
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Later, in reply to a question from Rep. Trude Ledoux-Sunia, whether executive advisors fill out ASG applications and go through drug testing Titiaoalii answered yes.
Rep. Sanitoa also asked about the drug and alcohol testing, and whether she feels any parts of the law should be changed. According to the acting director, the previous administration updated the drug and alcohol testing policy in June of 2023. She said many older employees felt that those 65 years and older should not have to take the tests. Sanitoa said the law that the Fono passed was very specific, and there was no such waiver for elderly employees.
House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale said it was his understanding that only directors are political appointees now deputy directors are also political appointees and some are career service and others are hired on contract.
According to Titiaoalii, only directors are political appointees while deputy directors are appointed by directors based on who they feel they can work with.
The Speaker advised that she make a recommendation to the Governor concerning the appointment of deputy directors, noting that when deputy directors are removed, they come to the Fono to seek help.
With the House vote to approve Titioalii as Director of Human Resources, she is now fully confirmed as a cabinet member. The Senate endorsed her nomination by unanimous vote last week.
Photo: DHR Director Titiaoalii Dr. Asenati Saau-Umi.
