Both were members of the Vanua'aku Pati (VP), founded by Walter Lini, the first prime minister of Vanuatu.
They both also had a longstanding commitment to voluntary community service through local church organizations, rather than through the networks of the Vanuatu National Council of Women (VNCW), which was sometimes looked down on for being inefficient and beset by the same internal squabbling as the major political parties.
In time, their role as politicians came to be respected and they were permitted to hold discussions with the village chiefs.
Donald lodged a complaint against Tasso, accusing her of bribing voters by giving them food prior to the election.
The court ruled against Tasso, resulting in a by-election, which neither woman won.