Hunkin wins 'runoff'

Narrow victory for Samoan ‘patriot’.

By Ed Rampell

JVk MAN who has been described as “the most adventurous congressional candidate since Davy Crockett” has been confirmed as American Samoa’s Delegate to the House of Representatives.

Faleomaveaga Eni F Hunkin, Jr in tends to navigate a new course for the unincorporated US territory over his second two-year term. Close to the top of his agenda is the upgrading of

Pago Pago’s political status with

Washington, in an effort to end 88 years of what he calls “colonial abuse”.

Hunkin is seeking a status of free association between American Samoa and the United States, patterned on the Cook Islands-New Zealand part nership. He is also seeking an im proved economic package from the US to provide Pago Pago with the in frastructure necessary for making the

territory less dependent on

Washington.

At 40, Hunkin (who is a strong family man with five children) is a part of the postwar generation of islanders conscious of their role as Pacific entities in a community of micro-nations.

In addition to his sailing exploits aboard Hokule’a the popular politician has excellent congressional credentials: in 1984 he was elected Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa after

having served as Deputy Attorney

General and, from 1973 to 1981, working for the US House of Repre sentatives first as an administrative assistant to the then-Delegate from Pago Pago and later as staff council to the influential Interior and Insular Affairs Committee. A Vietnam veteran and Captain in the US Army Reserve, Hunkin has a law degree from Ber

keley, a bachelor’s degree in political

science from Brigham Young Uni versity, Utah, qualifications from the Church College of Hawaii . . . and the Samoan chiefly title of Faleomaveaga.

In addition, tne Hokule’a stalwart is, appropriately, a founder of the Tutila canoe club.

Democrat Hunkin faced stiff opposition in the November election.

Public Defender Aumoeualago Soli and local Senator Multiauaopele Ivi also tossed their hats into the ring, as did Senator Tufele Lia. Hunkin beat Tufele in the November 8 election but did not receive a majority, hence the November 22 runoff (which Hunkin won by a narrow margin). In addition to the congressional seat, the gov ernorship and local legislature were also contested: former Governor Peter Tali Coleman beat Eni’s teammate, Governor Lutali, for that seat. A staunch patriot, Hunkin has asserted that: “1 am a Samoan first, an Amer ican second. You cannot serve two masters.” □