The official kick off of the Lemanu and Talauega campaign for governor and lt governor Saturday at the Veterans Memorial Stadium was planned like a Flag Day event but it turned out to be much bigger than any recent Flag Day celebration.
There was a parade, floats and entertainment galore by village committees and youth groups dressed in spectacular uniforms. A group from Olosega (Swains) of which Lemanu is a descendant also entertained. 
And the donations to the campaign chest which was confirmed by Campaign Committee Chairman HTC Malemo Tausaga to KHJ News this morning was $961,000, now a record for any political kick off event.
The siva for candidate for Governor Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga and his wife Ella raised over $200,000 and that of candidate for Lt Governor Talauega Salo Vaalele Ale and his wife Marian collected more than $100,000.
Nu’uuli CCCAS Pastor Rev Leituaalasa Malietulua in His spiritual counseling for the candidates gave this observation about leadership in today’s world.
Play Audio
Talauega, the first to address the crowd, reflected on the wisdom of the forefathers of Tutuila and Manu’a who sought the protection of the United States and didn’t ask for envelopes but simply asked that the US protect “our lands and Samoan culture”.
He said the union that the chiefs of these islands struck with the a United States in 1900 for Tutuila and in 1904 for Manu’a has developed from a naval outpost to a fledging democracy and beacon of US presence in the Pacific.
At the same time Talauega referred to challenges presented by the territory’s unincorporated and unorganized status where decisions made in Washington DC without our input are a hurdle to realizing our full potential.
Talauega said that no one is more qualified than Lemanu to lead the territory and a government that serves “all of our people not just a select few.“
Play Audio
Lemanu’s speech which was all in Samoan except for a few minutes to recognize the international community or foreigners who make their home in American Samoa, talked about the selection of Talauega as his running mate, their priorities, and a promise for a government for the people and by the people of this territory.
Lemanu said their government should respond to the needs of the people instead of the people responding to the demands of the government.
The candidate for governor said it is every parent’s dream to provide a good education for their children and said he and Talauega will stive to help parents achieve that dream by giving priority to education.
He talked about the drug problem and how it has disrupted families, broken up marriage, led to domestic violaence and other social problems.
He touched briefly on making use of the Hawaiki cable to drive economic development and called for attention to the problems caused by climate change, particularly rising sea levels.
Lemanu stated that some have said he and Talauega are young and may not be ready to take the helm.
He cited the words of David to Goliath: “You come against me with sword and spear but I come against you in the name of the Lord.”
He said he and Talauega are ready to lead American Samoa into the future and make the territory a place that our children now living off island would want to come back to.
Photos: Lemanu & Talauega 2020 FB
