David Mercado Valderrama

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]

David Valderrama
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 26th district
In office January 9, 1991 – January 8, 2003 Serving with Rosa Lee Blumenthal, Christine M. Jones, C. Anthony Muse, Obie Patterson, and Kerry Hill
Preceded by	Gloria G. Lawlah
Succeeded by	Veronica L. Turner
Constituency	Prince George's County, Maryland
Personal details
Born	David Mercado Valderrama (1933-02-01) February 1, 1933 (age 91) Manila, Philippines
Political party	Democratic
Children	Kris Valderrama
Residence	Fort Washington, Maryland

Early life and education

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

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

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

• 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

• Member, Law Enforcement and State-Appointed Boards Committee, Prince George's County Delegation (chair, 1995–98)

Electoral history

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

1. "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. 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.