Wikipedia

Tom Torlakson

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.

Tom Torlakson
27th California State Superintendent of Public Instruction
In office
January 3, 2011 – January 7, 2019
GovernorJerry Brown
Preceded byJack O'Connell
Succeeded byTony Thurmond
Member of the California Senate
from the 7th district
In office
December 4, 2000 – November 30, 2008
Preceded byRichard Rainey
Succeeded byMark DeSaulnier
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 11th district
In office
December 1, 2008 – November 30, 2010
Preceded byMark DeSaulnier
Succeeded bySusan Bonilla
In office
December 2, 1996 – November 30, 2000
Preceded byBob Campbell
Succeeded byJoe Canciamilla
Personal details
Born (1949-07-19) July 19, 1949 (age 76)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Diana (m. 1970s, div. 2008)
Mae Cendana
​
(m. 2009)​
Children2
EducationUniversity of California, Berkeley (BA, MA)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Marine Corps
Years of service
1967–1971
UnitUnited States Merchant Marine
Battles/warsVietnam War

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

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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.[1]

Politics

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Torlakson served on the Antioch City Councl from 1978 to 1980 and was a member of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors from 1980 to 1996.

California State Assembly

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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."[2] He was easily reelected in 1998.

California State Senate

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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.[2]

Califronia State Superintendent of Public Instruction

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Torlakson at the 2011 California Democratic Party 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.[3]

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.[4][5] As Acting Governor, Torlakson proclaimed a state of emergency for the Sand Fire in Los Angeles County and the Soberanes Fire in Monterey County.[6]

Pegasus California School Scandal

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In 2021, it was reported by Business Insider that Val Verde Unified had engaged in a scheme to funnel children in Qingdao, China to US colleges.[7] The plan relied on the issuance of fraudulent high school diplomas from "Pegasus California School," a Qingdao-based school that was framed as a legitimate part of VVUSD and thus able to issue proper diplomas from an accredited institution. A 2026 by the Riverside County Office of Education confirmed the report, issuing a rebuke of the school district and several former senior California school officials, including former California State Superintendent Tom Torlakson and former Education Secretary David Long.[8][9]

Personal life

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Torlakson is married to Mae Cendana, a member of the Ambrose Recreation and Park District board of directors.[10] Mae ran for the State Assembly in 2016 to represent the 14th district. She won the primary, but lost the general election.[11][12] He has two daughters, Tiffany and Tamara,[13] from a previous marriage.

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

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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
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
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
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
California State Senate 7th District Election, 2004
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tom Torlakson (inc.) 282,714 100.0
California State Assembly 11th District Election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tom Torlakson 117,773 73.8
Republican Elizabeth Hansen 42,023 26.2
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
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
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
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

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  1. ↑ "Biography – Assemblyman Tom Torlakson (District 11)" (PDF). Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.
  2. 1 2 TomTorlakson.com Archived November 8, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ Blume, Howard (November 5, 2014). "Marshall Tuck concedes to Tom Torlakson in state schools chief race". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Tom Torlakson takes charge of California with top six leaders gone". San Jose Mercury News. July 31, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  5. ↑ Myers, John (July 25, 2016). "Who's governor of California? This week, it's not Jerry Brown". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Acting Governor Torlakson Declares State of Emergency in Los Angeles and Monterey Counties". Office of the Governor. July 26, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  7. ↑ Einbinder, Nicole. "Insider investigation reveals officials helped sell access to California public schools to Chinese elite". Business Insider. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  8. ↑ Nelson, Joe (2026-03-19). "Audit blasts Val Verde Unified's ties with elite private boarding school in China". Press Enterprise. [Add'l publication URL]. Archived from the original on 2026-03-20. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  9. ↑ "AB 139 EXTRAORDINARY AUDIT". Riverside County Office of Education. February 19, 2026. Document itself is [here]. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  10. ↑ "Tom Torlakson - Biographies (CA Dept of Education)". www.cde.ca.gov. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  11. ↑ "June 7, 2016, Presidential Primary Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  12. ↑ "November 8, 2016, General Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  13. ↑ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
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