PITTSBURG, CA — Keeping up her momentum, today, State Assembly District 14 candidate Mae Cendaña Torlakson received a high-powered and coveted endorsement from California State Senator Mark Leno.

In announcing his support of Torlakson for State Assembly, Senator Leno released the following statement:

“We need more proven leaders, champions of working families, and forward-thinking advocates in Sacramento. That’s why I’m delighted to announce my strong endorsement of Mae Cendaña Torlakson for State Assembly District 14. Whether it’s fighting for increased investments in our educational systems to expand opportunity, standing up for equality for all Californians, increasing access to healthcare or creating more good paying middle class jobs, I know Mae Cendaña Torlakson will make the residents of the 14th District proud.”

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, Lafayette, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Rodeo, Martinez, Walnut Creek, and Vallejo.

For a full list of Mae’s endorsements and achievements, visit www.maetorlakson.com

###