Ricardo Tudela

Ricardo Tudela Barraza (12 April 1920 – 9 June 2012) was a Chilean dentist, diplomat, and politician affiliated with the Christian Democratic Party.

He served as Deputy for the 9th Departmental Group (Rancagua, Caupolicán, San Vicente and Cachapoal) from 1969 to 1973. He also held office as Intendant of O'Higgins Province, Governor of Cachapoal Province, and Councilman of Rancagua in two non-consecutive terms.

Biography He was born in Sierra Gorda on 12 April 1920, the son of Luis Armando Tudela Zúñiga and María Barraza.

He completed his primary and secondary studies at the Instituto O'Higgins de Rancagua, later earning his degree in dentistry at the University of Chile, specializing in radiology. He married Inés Nettle, with whom he had ten children.

He practiced dentistry at the Hospital Regional de Rancagua, working for the National Health Service. During the 1962 FIFA World Cup, he treated football players competing in matches hosted in Rancagua. He was also president of the Odontological Circle.

He began political activity in the Christian Democratic Party (PDC), serving as communal president for six terms, provincial vice-president, and provincial president, as well as delegate to the national party convention.

Under President Eduardo Frei Montalva, he served as Intendant of O'Higgins Province from 1964 to 2 April 1968.

In the 1969 elections, he was elected Deputy for the 9th Departmental Group (Rancagua, Caupolicán, San Vicente, Cachapoal). He joined the Permanent Committees on Internal Government (which he presided) and Public Health. In the 1973 elections, he was reelected, sitting on the Committees on Housing and Urban Development and Public Health. His mandate ended after the coup of 11 September 1973.

After the coup, he went into exile in Canada, where he served as honorary consul of Chile.

Returning to Chile, he was elected councilman for Rancagua from 6 December 1992 to 15 May 1994, and again from 6 December 2000 to 6 December 2004. In 1995, President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle appointed him Governor of Cachapoal Province, serving from 15 May 1994 to 11 March 2000.

Tudela died in Rancagua on 9 June 2012.