Fofó Iosefa Fiti Sunia

Who is Fofó Iosefa Fiti Sunia?

Fofó Iosefa Fiti Sunia was the first non-voting Delegate from American Samoa to the United States House of Representatives. He was born in Fagasá, Pago Pago, and attended the University of Hawaii.

Sunia was the administrative officer for the Samoan affairs-liaison functions for the Governor of American Samoa, and served as a translator and interpreter and an election commissioner from 1961 to 1966. He founded the Samoan News newspaper in 1964 and became director of tourism for the Government of American Samoa in 1966, serving until 1970. Sunia was elected a territorial Senator in 1970 and was a member of the legislature until 1978. He also formerly served as president and chairman of the American Samoan Development Corporation.

Sunia was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives, and served from January 3, 1981 until his resignation on September 6, 1988, after he was indicted on charges of running a payroll padding scheme. He is currently a resident of Pago Pago.