Deqa Dhalac facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Deqa Dhalac
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| Member of the Maine House of Representatives from the 120th district |
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| Assumed office December 7, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Richard Evans |
| Mayor of South Portland, Maine | |
| In office December 7, 2021 – December 7, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Misha Pride |
| Succeeded by | Kate Lewis (designate) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Deqa Dhalac
1968 (age 56–57) Mogadishu, Somalia |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of New Hampshire University of New England |
Deqa Dhalac, born around 1968 or 1969, is an important leader in Maine. She is a member of the Maine House of Representatives, representing the 120th District. Before this, she was the mayor of South Portland, Maine from 2021 to 2022. She made history as the first female mayor in the United States who was born in Africa. Deqa Dhalac is also one of the first Somali-Americans to serve in Maine's government, alongside Mana Abdi.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Deqa Dhalac was born in Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia. She was the middle child, with two brothers. Her father was a petroleum engineer and spoke openly about politics. Deqa Dhalac shared that her father believed in the importance of girls' education. He also thought girls played a vital role in the family. He passed away in 1989. Deqa learned English as a child as part of her schooling.
Journey to America
Fleeing Somalia
In 1990, Deqa Dhalac had to leave Somalia because of the start of the Somali Civil War. She flew to Rome, Italy. She planned to ask for asylum there. However, 17 other people had the same idea. They were held at the airport for over a month. Eventually, she was released and stayed with her cousin in Italy.
Moving to North America
After her time in Italy, Deqa Dhalac moved to England. In 1991, she moved to Toronto, Canada. Her journey continued, and she eventually made her way to the United States.
Life in the United States
Starting a Family and Career
In 1992, Deqa Dhalac married Abdi Farah. He was a Somali businessman from Atlanta. Their families had known each other well. Deqa began working to help immigrants become citizens and register to vote. She first worked as a cashier in a parking garage. A few months later, she got a job in a hotel. This was an accounts receivable job, using her accounting degree. Because she already knew English as a second language, it was easier for her to succeed in her career in the United States.
Settling in Maine
In 2005, Deqa Dhalac moved to Lewiston, Maine, with her children. Her husband stayed in Atlanta for his business but visited them often. Since 2008, she has lived in South Portland, Maine. There, she raised her three children. She became an interpreter for Catholic Charities Maine. Later, she started her own interpreting service. She also earned two master's degrees. These were in policy and social work from the University of New Hampshire and the University of New England.
Political Career
First Somali-American on City Council
In 2018, Deqa Dhalac made history. She became the first Somali-American and the first Muslim person elected to the South Portland city council. She ran for re-election in 2020 and won without anyone running against her.
Becoming Mayor
Deqa Dhalac gained national attention when she was chosen as the mayor of South Portland. The City Council voted for her unanimously. This made her the first Somali-American mayor in the United States. She served as mayor from December 2021 to December 2022.
Serving in the State Legislature
In 2022, State Representative Victoria Morales decided not to run again for Maine's 120th State House District. Deqa Dhalac was then chosen to take her place on the ballot. On November 8, 2022, she won the election. She became a member of the Maine House of Representatives. She continues to serve the people of Maine in this role.
See also
- List of mayors of South Portland, Maine
