Tom Torlakson

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. Torlakson is married to Mae Cendana, a member of the Ambrose Recreation and Park District board of directors.{{cite web|url=http://www.cde.ca.gov/eo/bo/tt/|title=Tom Torlakson - Biographies (CA Dept of Education)|website=www.cde.ca.gov|accessdate=12 September 2018}} 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.

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."[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.

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.

File:Superintendent of Education Tom Torlakson (5671447830) (cropped).jpg state convention]]

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.{{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 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.{{cite news |title=Tom Torlakson takes charge of California with top six leaders gone |url=http://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 in Los Angeles County and the Soberanes Fire in 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}}

{{reflist}}

• [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
• [http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/6022 Join California Tom Torlakson]

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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