Deqa Dhalac facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Deqa Dhalac
Member of the Maine House of Representatives from the 120th district
Incumbent
Assumed office December 7, 2022
Preceded by	Richard Evans
Mayor of South Portland, Maine
In office December 7, 2021 – December 7, 2022
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 politician in the state of Maine. She is currently a member of the Maine House of Representatives, which is like being a state lawmaker. She represents the 120th District.

Before becoming a state lawmaker, Deqa Dhalac was the mayor of South Portland, Maine. She served as mayor from 2021 to 2022. This was a big deal because she was the first female mayor in the United States who was born in Africa! Also, she and another politician named Mana Abdi are the first Somali-Americans to serve in Maine's state government.

Deqa Dhalac's Early Life

Deqa Dhalac was born in Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia. She was the middle child, with two brothers. Her father was an engineer who worked with oil. He was very interested in politics and believed that girls should get a good education. He thought girls played a very important role in their families. Deqa's father passed away in 1989. She learned English when she was a child as part of her schooling.

Becoming a Refugee

In 1990, Deqa Dhalac had to leave her home because of the Somali Civil War. This war caused many people to flee Somalia. She flew to Rome, Italy, planning to go to Libya.

Because of the war, there were no longer any embassy services available. Deqa wanted to ask for asylum, which is protection given by a country to someone who has fled their home country. However, 17 other people had the same idea. They were all held at the airport for over a month. Eventually, Deqa was released and went to stay with her cousin in Italy. After that, she moved to England, and then to Toronto, Canada, in 1991.

Life in America

In 1992, Deqa Dhalac married Abdi Farah. He was a Somali businessman from Atlanta, Georgia. Their families had known each other for a long time. Deqa started 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 working with accounts, which is about managing money. This was easier for her because she already knew English well.

In 2005, Deqa 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, where she raised her three children.

Deqa also worked as an interpreter for Catholic Charities Maine. An interpreter helps people who speak different languages understand each other. Later, she started her own interpreting business. She also went back to school and earned two master's degrees. She studied policy at the University of New Hampshire and social work at the University of New England.

Political Journey

In 2018, Deqa Dhalac made history in South Portland. She became the first African-American person and the first Muslim person elected to the South Portland city council. The city council helps make decisions for the city. In 2020, she ran for re-election and no one ran against her, so she won easily.

Deqa 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.

In 2022, a state representative named Victoria Morales decided not to run again for Maine's 120th State House District. Deqa Dhalac was chosen to take her place on the ballot. On November 8, 2022, she won the election and became a member of the Maine House of Representatives.

See also

• List of mayors of South Portland, Maine