Judith Won Pat

Judith Teresita Perez Won Pat (born December 6, 1949), also known as Judi Won Pat, is a Guamanian politician, and teacher who served as the speaker of the Guam Legislature from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party from Guam, served as the senator of the Guam Legislature from 1994 to 2003 and again from 2005 to 2017. Won Pat was the former sitting chairperson of the Committee on Education, Public Library and Women’s Affairs in the 32nd Guam Legislature.[1]

Judi Won Pat
Chair of the Guam Democratic Party
In office October 24, 2019 – January 16, 2020
Preceded by	Régine Biscoe Lee
Succeeded by	Jon Junior Calvo (Acting)
Speaker of the Guam Legislature
In office March 7, 2008 – January 2, 2017
Preceded by	Mark Forbes
Succeeded by	Benjamin Cruz
Senator in the Guam Legislature
In office January 3, 1994 – January 2, 2017
Personal details
Born	Judith Teresita Perez Won Pat December 6, 1949 Sumay, Guam, U.S. (now Santa Rita)
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Melvin Borja (Deceased)
Children	3
Education	Montgomery College Washington Adventist University (BA) University of Guam (MEd) University of San Diego (EdD)

Biographical Note

She was born as Judith Teresita Perez Won Pat on December 6, 1949, the daughter of Antonio Borja Won Pat (1908–1987) and Ana Salas Perez (1912–1995) 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), and they had three children: Ahtoy, Melvin, and Ana Maria Catherine Won Pat-Borja; she also has three grandchildren (including Ka'isa, and Ma'ina).

Political career

Guam 1977 Constitutional Convention

Authorized by Guam Public Law 13-202, the Territory of Guam held the Guam Constitutional Convention of 1977 to provide a local framework for self-government. When Judith Won Pat was 27 years old, she served as the Sinajana delegate to the 1977 Guam 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 was the sitting chairperson of the Committee on Education, Public Library and Women’s Affairs in the 32nd Guam Legislature.[1]

Post-Guam Legislature

After Won Pat lost re-election she has stayed out of the politics since 2017 to focus on her private life and she is now working with Guahan Academy Charter School.

References

1. Guam Legislature Legislative Committees. Hagatna.
2. Guam Constitutional Convention, Guam Constitutional Convention 1977, Agana, March 1979.
3. Guam Election Commission. Election Comparative Analysis Report 2012. Hagatna, 2013.
4. KUAM Won Pat upset after struggle with Tenorio. Hagatna, 7 March 2008.
5. KUAM Did AG's opinion introduce new problems for Legislature? Hagatna, 13 March 2008.