Fil-Am seeks reelection | Manila Bulletin

A 39-year-old Filipino American and mother of two is gunning for her second term representing the 26th legislative district of Prince George's County in Maryland.

Kriselda "Kris" Valderrama is competing with six other Democratic challengers in the September 14 Primary. The top three vote getters will face their Republican opponents in the November general election.

In her first primary four years ago, she barely won, edging her closest rival by only 100 votes. As an incumbent, however, Valderrama is expected to have an advantage over new challengers.

Likewise, the full support of Filipino-Americans in the Maryland neighborhoods of Oxon Hill, Temple Hills, Camp Springs and Fort Washington is expected to boost her re-election bid after her campaign noted that close to a thousand registered Fil-Am voters failed to cast their ballot in the 2006 primary elections.