Judith Won Pat

Judith Teresita Perez Won Pat (born December 6, 1949), also known as her stage name Judi Won Pat, is a Guamanian Democratic politician. She has been speaker of the Guam Legislature since March 2008, during the 29th Guam Legislature. Won Pat is the sitting chairperson of the Committee on Education, Public Library and Women’s Affairs of the 32nd Guam Legislature.^[1]

Biographical Note

She was born as Judith Teresita Perez Won Pat on December 6, 1949, the daughter of Antonio Borja Won Pat and Ana Salas Perez of Sumay.

Judith Won Pat's family moved to Takoma Park, Maryland, because her father had been elected to serve as delegate to the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. She graduated from Montgomery Blair High School. After high school, she attended Montgomery College and attained an Associate of Arts in liberal arts.

Judith Won Pat attained her Master of Education from the University of Guam.

Won Pat was married to the late Melvin B. Borja (1954–1996) where they had three children: Ahtoy, Melvin, and Ana Maria Catherine Won Pat-Borja, she also got two grandchildren Ka'isa, and Ma'ina.

Political career

Guam 1977 Constitutional Convention

Authorized by Guam Public Law 13-202, the Territory of Guam held a Guam 1977 Constitutional Convention to provide a local framework for self-government. When Judith Won Pat was 27 years old, she served as the Sinajana delegate to the Guam 1977 Constitutional Convention. Judith Won Pat served as the chairperson of the Women Rights Committee, vice chairperson of the Education Committee and also served as a member on the Gubernatorial Powers, the Municipal Government, and Natural Resources Committees, respectively. All 32 delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution on December 15, 1977.^[2]

Senator in the 23rd, 24th, 26th, 28th, and 29th Guam Legislatures

Judith Won Pat-Borja first ran to serve as senator in the 23rd Guam Legislature in 1994. She has served in the 23rd, 24th, 26th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd and 33rd Guam Legislatures.^[3] The 29th Guam Legislature had a bare majority of 8 Republican senators. After the passing of Republican Senator Antonio R. Unpingco, a special election was held on January 5, 2008, at which former Chief Justice Benjamin J.F. Cruz, a Democrat, was elected to fill the vacancy left by the late Senator Antonio R. Unpingco.^[3] After the special election, the Republican minority refused to allow a change in leadership to reflect its minority status. Early in the morning on March 7, 2008, the Democratic majority held session and appointed a new leadership for the Guam Legislature, with Judith T. Perez Won Pat serving as Guam's first woman speaker of the Guam Legislature.^[4] An opinion by Attorney General Alicia Limtiaco upheld the validity of legislation issued by the Guam Legislature under its new leadership.^[5]

Speaker of the Guam Legislature

Judith Won Pat has served as speaker in the 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd and 33rd Guam Legislatures.^[3] Speaker Won Pat is the sitting chairperson of the Committee on Education, Public Library and Women’s Affairs of the 32nd Guam Legislature.^[1]

References