Velega Savali

Savali is married to Leleiga Fa’atili Esera. The couple have three daughters - Lelatasi, Hope and Tasi - two sons, John and Savali III, and six grandchildren, Anthony, Lela, Walker, Dash, Reid and Maliyah.

Savali was granted the title of High Talking Chief of Velega by his family.[2] He is a deacon at the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa.

Savali was born on January 11, 1943, to Savali Rapi Muasau and Taupuleesea Tela.[2] Savali's family is originally from Ofu-Olosega in the Manu'a Islands.

He attended Ofu Elementary School from 1948[2] and Papatea Junior High School from 1954. Savali moved to the island of Tutuila in 1958, where he attended the High School of American Samoa in Utulei.[2] He and his family soon moved again, this time to Hawaii, where he graduated from Admiral Arthur W. Radford High School in 1962.[2]

Savali enlisted in the United States Marines in 1965, and served in the Vietnam War for a brief time.[2] He was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and two medals for good conduct.[2] Seveli received an honorable discharge from the Marines in 1968 as an E-5.[2]

Savali enrolled at Los Angeles City College in 1969. He transferred to California State University, Los Angeles, in 1971, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science and business administration.[2]

Savali returned to American Samoa in 1974, where he became the assistant director of the Department of Public Works (DPW).[2] He became the manager of the Office of Motor Vehicles of American Samoa in 1975.[2] He held the position until he took a position as the administrator of the High Court of American Samoa in 1978.[2] Savali later became the manager of the Department of Human Resources.[2]

Savali became a legislative financial officer for the American Samoa Fono in 1986.[2] He was appointed as the vice president of the Development Bank of American Samoa in 2000.[2]

Savali was appointed the Treasurer of the American Samoa government, a cabinet post, in August 2005 by Governor Togiola Tulafono.[1] He was confirmed for the post by the American Samoa Fono.[1] In January 2008, Governor Tulafono wrote to Savali asking that he submit his resignation for failing to report that the government was facing a deteriorating financial crisis and was running out of money.[3] Savali sent a letter back to the Governor refusing to resign and challenging the governor to remove him from his cabinet office.[4] He was subsequently fired by Governor Tulafono.[5] Savali said in an interview that a termination letter was delivered to him in a public park. He stated that the Governor's poor assessment of the American Samoan finances was incorrect.[4]

In 2008, Afoa Moega Lutu announced that he would challenge Governor Togiola Tulafono for governor of American Samoa, with Velega Savali as his running mate.[6] Savali would have become the next Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa if elected on November 4, 2008, but the Lutu-Savali ticket lost to the incumbent Governor Togiola Tulafono in a run off.

In January 2009 Savali joined the American Samoa Senate after a contested selection.[7] In July 2010 he filed a lawsuit preventing the government spending money on a Samoan Heritage Week in Hawaii without the approval of the Fono.[8][9]

He was subsequently appointed American Samoa's chief election officer, but resigned in May 2013.[10]