Suʻa Alexander Eli Jennings

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Suʻa Alexander Eli Jennings
Delegate to the
American Samoa House of Representatives
from the Swains Island
Assumed office
January 3, 2005
Preceded byWallace Thompson
Personal details
SpouseRowena Jennings[1]
Children2
OccupationPolitician

Suʻa Alexander Eli Jennings is an American Samoan politician who is the current delegate to the American Samoa House of Representatives from Swains Island.[2][3][4]

Career[edit]

Suʻa Alexander Eli Jennings is a direct descendant of Eli Hutchinson Jennings, the first American settler of Swains Island.[5] Jennings is a retired navy mechanic and a certified airline pilot and mechanic.[6][7] He took office on January 3, 2005.[8]

Political career[edit]

In 2004, Jennings was chosen by U.S citizens and U.S. nationals residing on Swains Island to succeed Wallace Thompson as the non-voting delegate from the Swains Island to the American Samoa House of Representatives.[6] Jennings is a supporter of the United States' position on Swains Island in the territorial dispute between the United States and Tokelau.[9] Since 2013, he has been a voting member of the Sanctuary Advisory Council for the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa.[10]

In 2020, he was elected to the position in the 2020 American Samoan general election against Penieli Baker and Bert Thompson.[11][12] He serves as the chairman of the House Human Social Service Committee.[13] He was re-elected in 2022.[14]

In 2022, the Swains Island Delegate position became a voting member of the American Samoa House of Representatives.[15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Swains Island Expedition Journal" (PDF). Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. May 14, 2011. p. 4. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  2. ^ "AMERICAN SAMOA LEGISLATURE (FONO)". americansamoa.gov. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  3. ^ "Su'a Alexander Eli Jennings". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  4. ^ "Swains Island rep asks for the island's fair share of federal funding". samoanews.com. 2021-07-31. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  5. ^ "Swains Islands in American Samoa picks Representative". Radio New Zealand. October 12, 2010. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "American Samoa's Swain's Island has named its new delegate to the Territorial Assembly". Radio New Zealand. October 26, 2004. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  7. ^ "American Samoa celebrations marking Swains Island anniversary". Radio New Zealand. May 14, 2005. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  8. ^ "Constitution of American Samoa". p. 13. The terms of all members of the Legislature including any delegate shall commence at noon on the third day of January following their election, except as otherwise provided.
  9. ^ "Swains leader opposed to Tokelau bid for island". Radio New Zealand. March 28, 2007. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  10. ^ "Sanctuary Advisory Council membership". NOAA. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  11. ^ "Swains Islanders meet to select Fono delegate". samoanews.com. 2020-10-29. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  12. ^ "Rep Su'a Alexander Jennings Returns to House". Talanei. 28 October 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  13. ^ "File that just 'appeared' will not be part of DHSS confirmation hearing". www.samoanews.com. 2021-02-18. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  14. ^ "Swains voters select Su'a Alexander Jennings again". Talanei. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Delegate from uninhabited island gets voting rights in legislature". Radio New Zealand. September 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2023.