 Utu Abe Malae, the former head of the Development Bank of American Samoa and gubernatorial candidate, chose Saoluaga as his running mate for lieutenant governor in the 2008 election for Governor of American Samoa.Malae and Saoluaga formally announced their candidacy for governor and lt. governor at the Maliu Mai Beach Resort on June 10, 2008.Malae cited Saoluaga's legislative career, which complimented his management experience, as the reason that the two decided to run as a team.