David Mercado Valderrama

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David Valderrama
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 26th district
In office
January 9, 1991 – January 8, 2003
Preceded byGloria G. Lawlah
Succeeded byVeronica L. Turner
ConstituencyPrince George's County, Maryland
Personal details
Born
David Mercado Valderrama

(1933-02-01) February 1, 1933 (age 91)
Manila, Philippines
Political partyDemocratic
ChildrenKris Valderrama
ResidenceFort Washington, Maryland

David Mercado Valderrama (born February 1, 1933) is a Filipino-American politician from Maryland. He served as a Democratic member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1991 to 2003[1] and was the first Filipino-American elected to a state legislature on the mainland United States, as well as the first Asian American and first Filipino American elected to the Maryland General Assembly.[2]

Early life and education[edit]

Valderrama was born in Manila on February 1, 1933. At 16 years old, he went into business for himself, selling everything from cars to cigarettes. He aspired to be a violinist, organizing an orchestra while in high school. He also helped edit the school paper and won national essay contests.[2] He attended Far Eastern University, where he earned a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1956, and George Washington University, where he earned a Master of Comparative Law degree in 1988.[1]

Career[edit]

Valderrama became involved with politics while attending college. He spoke out against the regime of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos after his declaration of martial law in the Philippines in 1972, later criticizing him during his meeting with U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1982.[2][3][4] In December 1984, Valderrama was arrested during an anti-apartheid demonstration outside of the South African embassy in Washington, D.C.,[5] and in the following year he formed the Asian Americans Against Apartheid group to encourage community protests against the regime in South Africa and for the release of Nelson Mandela.[2]

In 1982, Valderrama ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 25. Although his bid was unsuccessful, political observers were surprised with the force in which Philippine American voters turned out to support Valderrama. In 1986, Maryland governor Harry Hughes appointed Valderrama to serve on the Orphans' Court.[6]

In September 2016, Valderrama attended an anti-Marcos protest in Washington, D.C. to protest against Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to allow Marcos' burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani cemetery.[7]

In the legislature[edit]

Valderrama was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 9, 1991. From 1995 to 2001, he served the Deputy Majority Whip, and as the Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Delegates from 2001 to 2003.[1] During his service, he unsuccessfully pushed for the legalization of medical marijuana.[8][9][10]

Committee assignments[edit]

  • Member, Constitutional and Administrative Law Committee, 1991–92
  • Member, Environmental Matters Committee, 1992–94
  • Member, Judiciary Committee, 1995–2003 (gambling subcommittee, 1995–97; chair, gaming law & enforcement subcommittee, 1999–2003)
  • Member, Joint Committee on Protocol, 1995–2003

Other memberships[edit]

Electoral history[edit]

Maryland House of Delegates District 26 Democratic Primary Election, 1990[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rosa Lee Blumenthal 5,093 16
Democratic Christine M. Jones 4,868 16
Democratic David M. Valderrama 4,095 13
Democratic Otis Ducker 3,889 13
Democratic Mary C. Larkin 3,839 12
Democratic Bernard Phifer 3,125 10
Democratic Alfred L. Barrett 2,109 7
Democratic Charles C. Diggs Jr. 1,911 6
Democratic Veronica Turner 1,645 5
Democratic Leighton D. Williams 441 1
Maryland House of Delegates District 26 Election, 1990[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rosa Lee Blumenthal 11,941 20
Democratic Christine M. Jones 11,888 20
Democratic David M. Valderrama 10,889 28
Republican Claude W. Roxborough 4,497 11
Maryland House of Delegates District 26 Democratic Primary Election, 1994[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic C. Anthony Muse 8,716 24
Democratic David M. Valderrama 6,657 18
Democratic Obie Patterson 6,234 17
Democratic Rosa Lee Blumenthal 4,187 12
Democratic Christine M. Jones 3,953 11
Democratic Napoleon Lechoco 1,997 6
Democratic Charles H. French 1,784 5
Democratic Gloria E. Horton 1,215 3
Democratic Henry W. Harris Sr. 762 2
Democratic Leighton D. Williams 545 2
Maryland House of Delegates District 26 Election, 1994[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic C. Anthony Muse 17,807 27
Democratic David M. Valderrama 17,206 26
Democratic Obie Patterson 16,483 25
Republican Max L. Buff 4,814 7
Republican Claude W. Roxborough 4,612 7
Republican Erich H. Schmidt 4,215 6
Maryland House of Delegates District 26 Election, 1998[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David M. Valderrama 5,715 18
Democratic Obie Patterson 5,669 18
Democratic Kerry Hill 4,965 15
Democratic Xavier Aragona 4,965 15
Democratic Otis Ducker 3,462 11
Democratic Charles H. French 2,676 8
Democratic Paul Frank Baiers Jr. 1,925 6
Democratic Napoleon Lechoco 1,565 5
Democratic Patrick A. Schaeffer Jr. 1,087 3
Democratic Leighton D. Williams 641 2
Maryland House of Delegates District 26 Election, 1998[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Obie Patterson 23,465 34
Democratic David M. Valderrama 23,269 33
Democratic Kerry Hill 23,174 33
Maryland Senate District 26 Democratic Primary Election, 2002[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gloria G. Lawlah 12,343 69.3
Democratic David M. Valderrama 3,240 18.2
Democratic Zalee G. Harris 2,222 12.5

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "David M. Valderrama, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Yuchengco, Mona Lisa (November 17, 2021). "Living Legends, Part 1". Positively Filipino. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  3. ^ Radcliffe, Donnie (September 14, 1982). "Washington Ways Millions For Marcos? Critics Charge State Visit Costs Philippines $5 Million". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 4, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  4. ^ "Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos' meeting with President Reagan Thursday..." United Press International. September 14, 1982. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  5. ^ Barker, Kerlyn (December 18, 1984). "District Council Member Arrested in Embassy Protest". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 4, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  6. ^ Hill, Retha (June 30, 1988). "NEW PLAYERS JOIN THE FIELD". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 4, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  7. ^ Melegrito, Jon (September 10, 2016). "Filipinos in DC haven't forgotten Marcos and misdeeds". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on November 23, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  8. ^ Gregg, Aaron; Nirappil, Fenit (June 25, 2016). "Growing medical marijuana could mean big business in Maryland. Here's who wants in". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  9. ^ "Maryland Medical Marijuana Bill Defeated -- This Time". Stopthedrugwar.org. Marijuana Policy Project. March 17, 2000. Archived from the original on June 4, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  10. ^ "Proponents of medical marijuana switch to 'Plan B' after defeat in Senate". The Daily Record. March 22, 2001. Archived from the original on June 4, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  11. ^ "1990 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2021-08-07. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  12. ^ "1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2021-08-07. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  13. ^ "1994 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2022-03-05. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  14. ^ "1994 Gubernatorial General Election Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2020-10-24. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  15. ^ "1998 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2022-03-05. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  16. ^ "1998 Gubernatorial General Election Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2021-07-27. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  17. ^ "2002 Gubernatorial Election Official Results: Legislative District 26". Maryland State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2022-05-30. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
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