▁way ▁for ▁American ▁Sam oa ' s ▁first ▁popular ▁g ubern atorial ▁election ▁in ▁November ▁ 1 9 7 7 . ▁ ▁Peter ▁T ali ▁Cole man , ▁who ▁had ▁previously ▁served ▁as ▁appointed ▁Governor ▁during ▁the ▁ 1 9 5 0 s , ▁and ▁his ▁running ▁mate , ▁T uf ele ▁Li am at ua , ▁won ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 7 ▁g ubern atorial ▁election ▁on ▁November ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 9 7 7 , ▁becoming ▁the ▁first ▁directly ▁elected ▁Governor ▁and ▁L t . ▁Governor ▁of ▁American ▁Sam oa , ▁respectively . ▁Li am at ua ▁was ▁inaugur ated ▁as ▁Lieutenant ▁Governor ▁of ▁American ▁Sam oa ▁on ▁January ▁ 3 , ▁ 1 9 7 8 . ▁Cole man ▁and ▁Li am at ua ▁successfully ▁campaign ed ▁for ▁a ▁second ▁full ▁term ▁in ▁office ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 0 ▁g ubern atorial ▁election . ▁Li am at ua ▁left ▁office ▁on ▁January ▁ 3 , ▁ 1 9 8 5 , ▁and ▁was ▁succeeded ▁by ▁En i ▁F ale om ava ega . ▁ ▁Public ▁career ▁Li am at ua ▁later ▁served ▁as ▁the ▁Governor ▁of ▁Man u ' a ▁District . ▁He ▁also ▁held ▁the ▁position ▁of ▁police ▁commission er ▁at ▁one ▁point . ▁ ▁Li am at ua ▁was ▁appointed ▁as ▁the ▁chairman ▁of ▁the ▁Future ▁Political ▁Status ▁Study ▁Commission ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 6 . ▁American ▁Sam o an ▁Senator ▁T ua olo ▁Fr ue an ▁was ▁appointed ▁the ▁Vice ▁Chair man