February 11th, 2016
PITTSBURG, CA—Mae Cendaña Torlakson was endorsed today by AFSCME District Council 57 and the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD). AFSCME District Council 57 represents over 25,000 members across 23 AFSCME locals throughout northern California, and represents thousands of working people across the region and the state.
UAPD, known as “the union for doctors,” is the largest union representing licensed doctors in the nation. UAPD is affiliated with AFSCME and the AFL-CIO.
“With so many important issues impacting working families approaching in the coming years, we need a leader like Mae Cendaña Torlakson to fight for good jobs and good working conditions for everybody,” said Cynthia McCabe, President of AFSCME District Council 57. “Our members are proud to endorse MaeTorlakson.”
Last week was a banner week for the Torlakson campaign. Torlakson was endorsed by outgoing Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, and reports became public showing Torlakson had outraised her chief opponent more than 10:1 in the last 6 months of 2015. Recently, Torlakson was endorsed by SEIU State Council and the California Teachers Association.
Torlakson has earned over 100 individual and organizational endorsements in her campaign for State Assembly, including:
1. Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom
2. California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson
3. California State Controller Betty Yee
4. California State Treasurer John Chiang
5. California State Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones
6. California State Board of Equalization Chairman Jerome Horton
7. California State Board of Equalization Member Fiona Ma
8. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier
9. Congressman Mike Thompson
10. Congresswoman Judy Chu
11. State Senate President pro Tem Kevin de León
12. State Senator Isadore Hall III
13. State Senator Jim Beall
14. State Senator Loni Hancock
15. State Senator Lois Wolk
16. State Assembly Member Rob Bonta
17. State Assembly Member Kansen Chu
18. State Assembly Member David Chiu
19. State Assembly Member and California Latino Caucus Chair Luis Alejo
20. State Assembly Member Susan Eggman
21. State Assembly Member Cristina Garcia
22. State Assembly Member Evan Low
23. State Assembly Member Jose Medina
24. State Assembly Member Phil Ting
25. State Assembly Member Tony Thurmond
26. State Assembly Member Das Williams
27. State Assembly Member Chris Holden
28. State Assembly Member Patrick O’Donnell
29. Former State Assembly Member Nancy Skinner
30. Former State Assembly Member & Los Angeles Community College District Trustee Mike Eng
31. Ambrose Recreation & Park District Board Director Eva Garcia
32. Ambrose Recreation & Park District Board Vice-Chair Judy Dawson
33. American Canyon Mayor Leon Garcia
34. Antioch School Board Member Debra Vinson
35. Antioch School Board Vice President Walter Ruehlig
36. Antioch City Councilmember Monica Wilson
37. Artesia Mayor Pro Tem Victor Manalo
38. Burbank Unified Board of Education Member Dr. Armond Aghakhanian
39. Cerritos Mayor Mark Pulido
40. Compton Unified School District President/Trustee Micah Ali
41. Contra Costa Community College Board Member Greg Enholm
42. Contra Costa Community College District Board Member Tim Farley
43. Contra Costa Community College District Secretary John E. Márquez
44. Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia
45. Daly City City Councilmember Mike Guingona
46. East Bay Regional Park District Board Member Ted Radke (ret.)
47. El Cerrito City Councilmember Gabriel Quinto
48. El Cerrito City Councilmember Janet Abelson
49. Elk Grove City Councilmember Darren Suen
50. Fairfield City Councilmember Rick Vacarro
51. Fairfield Mayor Harry T. Price
52. Former Ambrose Recreation & Park District Board Member Alex Dongallo
53. Former Contra Costa Community College District Board Member Tomi Riley Van de Brooke
54. Former San Jose City Councilmember Madison Nguyen
55. Former State Assembly District 14 Candidate Satinder Malhi
56. Hercules City Councilmember Myrna de Vera
57. La Puente Unified School District President Anthony Duarte
58. Las Positas Community College Board Trustee Hal Gin
59. Los Angeles Community College Board Trustee Mike Fong
60. Martinez City Councilmember Mark Ross
61. Martinez City Councilmember Debbie McKillop
62. Martinez Mayor Rob Schroder
63. Mt. Diablo Unified School District Board Member Linda Mayo
64. Oakland City Councilmember Dan Kalb
65. Oakland Unified School District Trustee Aimee Eng
66. Orinda Union School District Trustee Sarah Butler
67. Perris Elementary School District Board Member Verniecia Green-Jordan
68. Pittsburg School Board Member De’Shawn Woolridge
69. Pleasant Hill Vice Mayor David Durant
70. Rosemead City Councilmember Polly Low
71. San Diego City Councilmember Todd Gloria
72. San Francisco School Board Member Hydra Mendoza
73. San Jose City Councilmember Ash Kalra
74. Santa Clara County Board of Education Member Rosemary Kamei
75. Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez
76. Santa Clara School Board Trustee Noelani Sallings
77. Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Board Chair Mike Potter
78. Saratoga City Councilmember Rishi Kumar
79. Sierra Madre City Councilmember Rachelle Arizmendi
80. Solano County Board of Education President Dana Dean
81. Solano County Supervisor Linda Seifert
82. Solano County Supervisor John Vasquez
83. Suisun Mayor Pete Sanchez
84. Tri-Delta Transit Board Member Ken Gray
85. Union City Vice Mayor Jim Navarro
86. Vallejo City Councilmember Bob Sampayan
87. Vallejo Unified School District Trustee Ruscal Cayangyang
88. Vallejo Unified School District Trustee Tony Ubalde
89. Vallejo Unified School District Trustee Burky Worel
90. Vallejo Vice Mayor Jess Malgapo
91. West Contra Costa Unified School District President Todd Groves
92. Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus (APILC)
93. California Democratic Legislative Woman’s Caucus
94. California Nurses Association (CNA)
95. Union of American Physicians and Dentists
96. California Association of Psychiatric Technicians
97. Filipino-American Democratic Club of Contra Costa County
98. National Women’s Political Caucus
99. Stonewall Democrats of Solano County
100. United Democrats of Solano County
101. SEIU State Council
102. California Teachers Association
103. Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla
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.