# Tom Torlakson
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{{Short description|American politician (born 1949)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Tom Torlakson
| image = California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson.jpg
| image_size = 190px
| office = 27th [California State Superintendent of Public Instruction](/source/California_State_Superintendent_of_Public_Instruction)
| governor = [Jerry Brown](/source/Jerry_Brown)
| term_start = January 3, 2011
| term_end = January 7, 2019
| predecessor = [Jack O'Connell](/source/Jack_O'Connell_(American_politician))
| successor = [Tony Thurmond](/source/Tony_Thurmond)
| state_senate1 = California
| district1 = [7th](/source/California's_7th_State_Senate_district)
| term_start1 = December 4, 2000
| term_end1 = November 30, 2008
| predecessor1 = [Richard Rainey](/source/Richard_Rainey)
| successor1 = [Mark DeSaulnier](/source/Mark_DeSaulnier)
| state_assembly2 = California
| district2 = [11th](/source/California's_11th_State_Assembly_district)
| term_start2 = December 1, 2008
| term_end2 = November 30, 2010
| predecessor2 = [Mark DeSaulnier](/source/Mark_DeSaulnier)
| successor2 = [Susan Bonilla](/source/Susan_Bonilla)
| term_start3 = December 2, 1996
| term_end3 = November 30, 2000
| predecessor3 = [Bob Campbell](/source/Robert_Campbell_(California_politician))
| successor3 = [Joe Canciamilla](/source/Joe_Canciamilla)
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|7|19}}
| birth_place = [San Francisco](/source/San_Francisco), [California](/source/California), U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States))
| spouse = Diana (m. 1970s, div. 2008)
{{marriage|Mae Cendana|2009}}
| children = 2
| education = [University of California, Berkeley](/source/University_of_California%2C_Berkeley) {{small|([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts), [MA](/source/Master_of_Arts))}}
| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}
| branch = {{flag|United States Marine Corps}}
| service_years = 1967–1971
| unit = [United States Merchant Marine](/source/United_States_Merchant_Marine)
| battles = [Vietnam War](/source/Vietnam_War)
}}
'''Thomas Allen Torlakson''' (born July 19, 1949) is an American [educator](/source/educator) and [politician](/source/politician) from [California](/source/California). In 2010, he was elected to the position of [California State Superintendent of Public Instruction](/source/California_State_Superintendent_of_Public_Instruction), a position he served in until 2019. He is a member of the [Democratic Party](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)).
He previously served three terms in the [California State Assembly](/source/California_State_Assembly), representing the [11th district](/source/California's_11th_State_Assembly_district), which consists of northern portions of [Contra Costa County](/source/Contra_Costa_County%2C_California). He also served two terms in the [California State Senate](/source/California_State_Senate), representing the [7th district](/source/California's_7th_State_Senate_district).
==Early life==
His younger brother, [James Torlakson](/source/James_Torlakson), is an artist in [San Francisco, California](/source/San_Francisco%2C_California). Another younger brother (Christopher Torlakson) is deceased. Torlakson attended [Westmoor High School](/source/Westmoor_High_School) in [Daly City, California](/source/Daly_City%2C_California). On May 25, 2017, Torlakson issued the commencement address where he graduated from 50 years ago.
Torlakson served in the [U.S. Merchant Marine](/source/U.S._Merchant_Marine) during the [Vietnam War](/source/Vietnam_War) from 1967 to 1970. His assignments included [Guam](/source/Guam), [Vietnam](/source/Vietnam), [Thailand](/source/Thailand) and later on [Chevron](/source/Chevron_Corporation) oil tankers to [Alaska](/source/Alaska) which was his first job where he was a union member. In 1968, he received the Merchant Marines Vietnam Service Medal. After his maritime service, Torlakson attended the [University of California, Berkeley](/source/University_of_California%2C_Berkeley). He earned a [B.A.](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) in [History](/source/History) in 1971, and an [M.A.](/source/Master_of_Arts) in [Education](/source/Education) in 1977.
He began work as a science teacher in 1972.[{{Cite web |title=Biography – Assemblyman Tom Torlakson (District 11) |url=https://lachamber.com/clientuploads/EWD_committee/Bio-AsmTorlakson.pdf |website=Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce}}]
== Politics ==
Torlakson served on the [Antioch](/source/Antioch%2C_California) City Councl from 1978 to 1980 and was a member of the [Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors](/source/Contra_Costa_County_Board_of_Supervisors) from 1980 to 1996.
==== California State Assembly ====
In 1996 Torlakson, then a [Contra Costa County](/source/Contra_Costa_County) [Supervisor](/source/Board_of_Supervisors), ran for the [California State Assembly](/source/California_State_Assembly) seat of term-limited [Bob Campbell](/source/Robert_Campbell_(California_politician)) (D-Richmond). He defeated George Miller IV, son of veteran congressman [George Miller III](/source/George_Miller_(California_politician)), in the Democratic primary. Torlakson campaigned with the slogan, "His own name, his own record."[[http://www.tomtorlakson.com/CMS/PublicationDetail.aspx?PublicationID=88 TomTorlakson.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051108113102/http://www.tomtorlakson.com/CMS/PublicationDetail.aspx?PublicationID=88|date=November 8, 2005}}] He was easily reelected in 1998.
=== California State Senate ===
In 2000 Torlakson won an expensive, hard fought campaign to unseat [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) [state Senator](/source/California_State_Senate) [Richard Rainey](/source/Richard_Rainey) (R-Walnut Creek) by 12%. While serving in the State Senate, Torlakson was appointed to chair the important Senate Appropriations Committee.[{{cite news |last1=Blume |first1=Howard |title=Marshall Tuck concedes to Tom Torlakson in state schools chief race |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-ln-state-supt-winner-20141104-story.html |accessdate=August 1, 2016 |agency=Los Angeles Times |date=November 5, 2014}}]
As Superintendent, Torlakson was eighth in the [line of succession](/source/line_of_succession) to the office of [Governor of California](/source/Governor_of_California). On Monday, July 25, 2016, Governor [Jerry Brown](/source/Jerry_Brown); [Lieutenant Governor](/source/Lieutenant_Governor_of_California) [Gavin Newsom](/source/Gavin_Newsom); [Senate President Pro Tem](/source/President_pro_tempore_of_the_California_State_Senate) [Kevin de León](/source/Kevin_de_Le%C3%B3n); [Assembly Speaker](/source/List_of_Speakers_of_the_California_State_Assembly) [Anthony Rendon](/source/Anthony_Rendon_(politician)); [Secretary of State](/source/Secretary_of_State_of_California) [Alex Padilla](/source/Alex_Padilla); then [Attorney General](/source/Attorney_General_of_California) [Kamala Harris](/source/Kamala_Harris); [Insurance Commissioner](/source/California_Insurance_Commissioner) [Dave Jones](/source/Dave_Jones_(politician)); and [Board of Equalization](/source/State_Board_of_Equalization_(California)) chair [Fiona Ma](/source/Fiona_Ma) were all out of state attending the [2016 Democratic National Convention](/source/2016_Democratic_National_Convention) in [Philadelphia](/source/Philadelphia), leaving Torlakson Acting Governor.[{{cite news |title=Tom Torlakson takes charge of California with top six leaders gone |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/internal-affairs/ci_30189580/internal-affairs-tom-torlakson-takes-charge-state |accessdate=July 31, 2016 |work=San Jose Mercury News |date=July 31, 2016}}][{{cite news |last1=Myers |first1=John |title=Who's governor of California? This week, it's not Jerry Brown |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-sac-acting-governor-rules-california-20160726-snap-story.html |accessdate=August 1, 2016 |agency=Los Angeles Times |date=July 25, 2016}}] As Acting Governor, Torlakson proclaimed a state of emergency for the [Sand Fire](/source/Sand_Fire_(2016)) in [Los Angeles County](/source/Los_Angeles_County) and the [Soberanes Fire](/source/Soberanes_Fire) in [Monterey County](/source/Monterey_County).[{{cite web |title=Acting Governor Torlakson Declares State of Emergency in Los Angeles and Monterey Counties |url=https://www.gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=19491 |website=Office of the Governor |accessdate=July 31, 2016 |date=July 26, 2016}}]
==== Pegasus California School Scandal ====
{{#section-h:Val Verde Unified School District|History}}
== Personal life ==
Torlakson is married to Mae Cendana, a member of the Ambrose Recreation and Park District board of directors.[{{cite web|url=https://www.cde.ca.gov/eo/bo/tt/|title=Tom Torlakson - Biographies (CA Dept of Education)|website=www.cde.ca.gov|accessdate=12 September 2018}}] Mae ran for the [State Assembly](/source/California_State_Assembly) in 2016 to represent the [14th district](/source/California's_14th_State_Assembly_district). She won the primary, but lost the general election.[{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2016-primary/110-state-assembly-formatted.pdf|title=June 7, 2016, Presidential Primary Election - State Assemblymember|website=[Secretary of State of California](/source/Secretary_of_State_of_California)|accessdate=November 17, 2025}}][{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2016-general/sov/45-state-assembly-formatted.pdf|title=November 8, 2016, General Election - State Assemblymember|website=[Secretary of State of California](/source/Secretary_of_State_of_California)|accessdate=November 17, 2025}}] He has two daughters, Tiffany and Tamara,[{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/9640/tom-torlakson#.UUAKHhxy-So|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Vote Smart|accessdate=12 September 2018}}] from a previous marriage.thumb|A fraudulent high school diploma issued by what was styled to be the "Pegasus California School" of the Val Verde Unified School District.
== Electoral history ==
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |California State Assembly 11th District Democratic Primary Election, 1996
|-
|'''Party'''
|'''Candidate'''
|'''Votes'''
|'''%'''
|-
|Democratic
|'''Tom Torlakson'''
|23,689
|51.02
|-
|Democratic
|George Miller
|22,746
|48.98
|}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |California State Assembly 11th District Election, 1996
|-
|'''Party'''
|'''Candidate'''
|'''Votes'''
|'''%'''
|-
|Democratic
|'''Tom Torlakson'''
|81,820
|60.02
|-
|Republican
|Bill Maxfield
|42,137
|30.91
|-
|Natural Law
|Eleanor Sheppard
|12,375
|9.06
|}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |California State Assembly 11th District Election, 1998
|-
|'''Party'''
|'''Candidate'''
|'''Votes'''
|'''%'''
|-
|Democratic
|'''Tom Torlakson (inc.)'''
|80,323
|69.02
|-
|Republican
|Allen Payton
|36,046
|30.98
|}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |California State Senate 7th District Election, 2000
|-
|'''Party'''
|'''Candidate'''
|'''Votes'''
|'''%'''
|-
|Democratic
|'''Tom Torlakson'''
|197,683
|54.5
|-
|Republican
|Dick Rainey
|156,107
|43.0
|-
|Natural Law
|Mark Billings
|9,334
|2.5
|}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |California State Senate 7th District Election, 2004
|-
|'''Party'''
|'''Candidate'''
|'''Votes'''
|'''%'''
|-
|Democratic
|'''Tom Torlakson (inc.)'''
|282,714
|100.0
|}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |California State Assembly 11th District Election, 2008
|-
|'''Party'''
|'''Candidate'''
|'''Votes'''
|'''%'''
|-
|Democratic
|'''Tom Torlakson'''
|117,773
|73.8
|-
|Republican
|Elizabeth Hansen
|42,023
|26.2
|}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |California Superintendent of Public Instruction Primary Election, 2010
|-
|'''Party'''
|'''Candidate'''
|'''Votes'''
|'''%'''
|-
|Nonpartisan
|'''Larry Aceves'''
|832,938
|19.2
|-
|Nonpartisan
|'''Tom Torlakson'''
|808,970
|18.6
|-
|Nonpartisan
|Gloria Romero
|738,032
|17.0
|-
|Nonpartisan
|Lydia Gutierrez
|384,514
|8.9
|-
|Nonpartisan
|Grant McMicken
|309,499
|7.2
|-
|Nonpartisan
|Karen Blake
|299,492
|6.9
|-
|Nonpartisan
|Diane Lenning
|270,570
|6.2
|-
|Nonpartisan
|Daniel Nusbaum
|217,220
|4.9
|-
|Nonpartisan
|Alexia Deligianni
|212,145
|4.8
|-
|Nonpartisan
|Leonard James Martin
|123,791
|2.8
|-
|Nonpartisan
|Henry Williams, Jr.
|125,283
|2.8
|-
|Nonpartisan
|Faarax Dahir Sheikh-Noor
|33,586
|0.7
|}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |California Superintendent of Public Instruction Election, 2010
|-
|'''Party'''
|'''Candidate'''
|'''Votes'''
|'''%'''
|-
|Nonpartisan
|'''Tom Torlakson'''
|4,222,946
|54.6
|-
|Nonpartisan
|Larry Aceves
|3,476,243
|44.9
|-
|Nonpartisan/Write-in
|Diane Lenning
|46,061
|0.5
|}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |California Superintendent of Public Instruction Primary Election, 2014
|-
|'''Party'''
|'''Candidate'''
|'''Votes'''
|'''%'''
|-
|Nonpartisan
|'''Tom Torlakson (inc.)'''
|1,767,257
|46.5
|-
|Nonpartisan
|'''Marshall Tuck'''
|1,098,441
|28.9
|-
|Nonpartisan
|Lydia Gutiérrez
|931,719
|24.5
|}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |California Superintendent of Public Instruction Election, 2014
|-
|'''Party'''
|'''Candidate'''
|'''Votes'''
|'''%'''
|-
|Nonpartisan
|'''Tom Torlakson (inc.)'''
|3,167,212
|52.1
|-
|Nonpartisan
|Marshall Tuck
|2,906,989
|47.9
|}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.pmakid.com/2012/02/tom-torlakson-ca-state-superintendent.html Interview on PMAKid.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090321061754/http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a11/District/default.aspx State Assembly Website]
* http://www.ucop.edu/state/advocacy/biographies/SDTorlakson07.pdf.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070519230026/http://www.tomtorlakson.com/about/labor.html]
* http://www.answers.com/topic/tom-torlakson
* http://journalism.berkeley.edu/projects/election2000/state/legis3.html
* http://halfwaytoconcord.com/?s=torlakson
* [https://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/6022 Join California Tom Torlakson]
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[Jack O'Connell](/source/Jack_O'Connell_(American_politician))}}
{{s-ttl|title=[California Superintendent of Public Instruction](/source/California_State_Superintendent_of_Public_Instruction)|years=2011–2019}}
{{s-aft|after=[Tony Thurmond](/source/Tony_Thurmond)}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Torlakson, Tom}}
Category:1949 births
Category:Democratic Party California state senators
Category:California superintendents of public instruction
Category:Living people
Category:Democratic Party members of the California State Assembly
Category:People from Antioch, California
Category:21st-century members of the California State Legislature
Category:20th-century members of the California State Legislature
---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tom Torlakson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Torlakson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Torlakson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.