February 26, 2016
PITTSBURG, CA— This past weekend, Mae Cendaña Torlakson was endorsed by the California Democratic Party, in her campaign for State Assembly District 14.
Famously, the California Democratic Party endorsement matters more than nearly any other endorsement in validating that a candidate shares the values of Democratic voters in their district.
The endorsement is especially impactful in a heavily Democratic district like Assembly District 14, where President Barack Obama received 68.7% of the vote in 2012.
“It is truly an honor to receive the endorsement of the California Democratic Party,” said Torlakson. “I’m proud and humbled to be the choice of the grassroots Democratic activists in my district, and as our party’s officially endorsed candidate, I will work every day to carry the banner and promote the values of the Democratic Party.”
For a full list of Torlakson’s endorsements, click here.
Torlakson, a Democrat, is seeking the 14th District seat held by Assembly member Susan Bonilla, who will leave office in 2016 due to term limits.Torlakson has pledged to use her skills building education partnerships with business and be a voice for college access and affordability, environmental protection and jobs development.
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 a successful mentoring program with Cisco.
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 28,000 residents of Bay Point and Pittsburg.
Torlakson also serves as chair of the Friends of the Delta Trail, and led advocacy 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 TomTorlakson, 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 and Vallejo.