Thomas Allen Torlakson (born July 19, 1949) is an American educator and politician from California. In 2010, he was elected to the position of California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, a position he served in until 2019. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
He previously served three terms in the California State Assembly, representing the 11th district, which consists of northern portions of Contra Costa County. He also served two terms in the California State Senate, representing the 7th district.
Early life His younger brother, James Torlakson, is an artist in San Francisco, California. Another younger brother (Christopher Torlakson) is deceased. Torlakson attended Westmoor High School in Daly City, 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 during the Vietnam War from 1967 to 1970. His assignments included Guam, Vietnam, Thailand and later on Chevron oil tankers to 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. He earned a B.A. in History in 1971, and an M.A. in Education in 1977.
He began work as a science teacher in 1972.
Politics Torlakson served on the Antioch City Council from 1978 to 1980 and was a member of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors from 1980 to 1996.
California State Assembly In 1996 Torlakson, then a Contra Costa County Supervisor, ran for the California State Assembly seat of term-limited Bob Campbell (D-Richmond). He defeated George Miller IV, son of veteran congressman George Miller III, in the Democratic primary. Torlakson campaigned with the slogan, "His own name, his own record."TomTorlakson.com He was easily reelected in 1998.
California State Senate In 2000 Torlakson won an expensive, hard fought campaign to unseat Republican state Senator Richard Rainey (R-Walnut Creek) by 12%. While serving in the State Senate, Torlakson was appointed to chair the important Senate Appropriations Committee.
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Torlakson ran for California State Superintendent of Public Instruction in the 2010 elections, defeating Larry Aceves in the general election held on November 2, 2010. Torlakson replaced Jack O'Connell, who was termed out of office. He was re-elected in 2014 against challenger Marshall Tuck.
As Superintendent, Torlakson was eighth in the line of succession to the office of Governor of California. On Monday, July 25, 2016, Governor Jerry Brown; Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom; Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León; Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon; Secretary of State Alex Padilla; then Attorney General Kamala Harris; Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones; and Board of Equalization chair Fiona Ma were all out of state attending the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, leaving Torlakson Acting Governor. As Acting Governor, Torlakson proclaimed a state of emergency for the Sand Fire in Los Angeles County and the Soberanes Fire in Monterey County.
Pegasus California School Scandal
Personal life Torlakson is married to Mae Cendana, a member of the Ambrose Recreation and Park District board of directors. Mae ran for the State Assembly in 2016 to represent the 14th district. She won the primary, but lost the general election. He has two daughters, Tiffany and Tamara, from a previous marriage.
Electoral history California State Assembly 11th District Democratic Primary Election, 1996PartyCandidateVotes%DemocraticTom Torlakson23,68951.02DemocraticGeorge Miller22,74648.98 California State Assembly 11th District Election, 1996PartyCandidateVotes%DemocraticTom Torlakson81,82060.02RepublicanBill Maxfield42,13730.91Natural LawEleanor Sheppard12,3759.06 California State Assembly 11th District Election, 1998PartyCandidateVotes%DemocraticTom Torlakson (inc.)80,32369.02RepublicanAllen Payton36,04630.98 California State Senate 7th District Election, 2000PartyCandidateVotes%DemocraticTom Torlakson197,68354.5RepublicanDick Rainey156,10743.0Natural LawMark Billings9,3342.5 California State Senate 7th District Election, 2004PartyCandidateVotes%DemocraticTom Torlakson (inc.)282,714100.0 California State Assembly 11th District Election, 2008PartyCandidateVotes%DemocraticTom Torlakson117,77373.8RepublicanElizabeth Hansen42,02326.2 California Superintendent of Public Instruction Primary Election, 2010PartyCandidateVotes%NonpartisanLarry Aceves832,93819.2NonpartisanTom Torlakson808,97018.6NonpartisanGloria Romero738,03217.0NonpartisanLydia Gutierrez384,5148.9NonpartisanGrant McMicken309,4997.2NonpartisanKaren Blake299,4926.9NonpartisanDiane Lenning270,5706.2NonpartisanDaniel Nusbaum217,2204.9NonpartisanAlexia Deligianni212,1454.8NonpartisanLeonard James Martin123,7912.8NonpartisanHenry Williams, Jr.125,2832.8NonpartisanFaarax Dahir Sheikh-Noor33,5860.7 California Superintendent of Public Instruction Election, 2010PartyCandidateVotes%NonpartisanTom Torlakson4,222,94654.6NonpartisanLarry Aceves3,476,24344.9Nonpartisan/Write-inDiane Lenning46,0610.5 California Superintendent of Public Instruction Primary Election, 2014PartyCandidateVotes%NonpartisanTom Torlakson (inc.)1,767,25746.5NonpartisanMarshall Tuck1,098,44128.9NonpartisanLydia Gutiérrez931,71924.5 California Superintendent of Public Instruction Election, 2014PartyCandidateVotes%NonpartisanTom Torlakson (inc.)3,167,21252.1NonpartisanMarshall Tuck2,906,98947.9
References
External links Interview on PMAKid.com State Assembly Website http://www.ucop.edu/state/advocacy/biographies/SDTorlakson07.pdf.
http://www.answers.com/topic/tom-torlakson http://journalism.berkeley.edu/projects/election2000/state/legis3.html http://halfwaytoconcord.com/?s=torlakson Join California Tom Torlakson