“I am honored to have the support of the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) and the California School Employees Association (CSEA),” said Mae Cendaña Torlakson. “Both organizations represent the hard working teachers and school employees that provide our children with the nurturing learning environment they deserve. Education is the key to a successful future. I have dedicated my career to enhancing opportunities for students to succeed in science, technology, engineering, and math. I look forward to continuing my partnership with CFT and CSEA to ensure that California has a quality education system and that our students are on the pathway to success.”For a full list of Torlakson’s endorsements, click here.
Torlakson is a manager at the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program, which is administered by the University of California Office of the President. Torlakson helps educationally disadvantaged students pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and has led in the creation of partnerships with businesses such as mentoring programs with Cisco and SanDisk.
A longtime advocate for community parks and open space, Torlakson is serving her third elected term on the board of the Ambrose Recreation and Park District, which provides recreation services and after school programs to 26,000 residents of Bay Point and Pittsburg.
Torlakson is a founder of the Friends of the Delta Trail. She led efforts that secured $4.5 million for the Great California Delta Trail, which will provide shoreline access and a continuous trail network through the five Delta counties.
Born in the Philippines, Torlakson immigrated to the United States in 1988 and became a U.S. citizen in 1994. Torlakson raised two children, both of whom graduated from the University of California, Berkeley.
Torlakson is married to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, who represented the region in the State Assembly and Senate before winning statewide office in 2010. They live in the Contra Costa County community of Pittsburg.
The 14th Assembly District represents portions of Contra Costa County and Southern Solano County. It includes the cities of Benicia, Clayton, Concord, Crockett, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Rodeo, Martinez, Suisun, Walnut Creek, and Vallejo.