By Martha Taumata Fa’avae
The General Manager of the Electric Power Corporation, Tologata Mr. Tile Lei’a, has confirmed plans to run in the 2021 general elections.
Tologata will contest his Electoral Constituency home seat of Falelatai and Samatau in Parliament.
“Right now I am looking to run in the general elections,’ is all he could say when asked by Newsline Samoa.
The General Manager takes with him if successful, a working experience of 30 years with close to a decade at the head of the Electric Power Corporation.
His list of achievement extends to the development of renewable energy from hydro, solar and wind sources intended to replace the dependence of diesel generated electricity.
Tologata holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from Australia along with several other university academic distinctions from New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
He is the first head of a Government Corporation or Ministry to confirm an interest in making the transition to politics but unlikely to be the last.
There is already a select group of Government CEOs are wrestling with the lure of making the transition into politics with the April 2021 general elections countdown just under a year to go.
The whether or not to run as an election candidate is a gamble that grows more difficult every passing day for group.
The EPC General Manager was included among the group until he confirmed his decision to venture out for a shot at a new career change.
Reports circulating that the Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner, Faafouina Lelevaga Mupo, is another possible election candidate were denied.
Fa’afouina told Newsline Samoa that the challenge has crossed his mind but for now he has no thoughts of running.
General Manager of the Samoa Shipping Services, Lautimuia Uelese Vaai, confirmed playing with the idea of running but has not made any decisions yet.
Lautimuia was an election candidate for the 2016 general elections but was unsuccessful.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ulu Bismarck Crawley, is in the same undecided position as the head of the Shipping Services.
He too made an unsuccessful bid in the 2016 general elections and remains undecided whether to give it a second try next year.
Several other heads of Government ministries and corporation were asked by Newsline Samoa but indicated little interest in politics.
One laughed heartily at having so much debt to wrestle with without adding more.