The last of the statewide offices that is available in 2010 is a non-partisan office that has been held by two former Democratic legislators, Delaine Eastin and Jack O’Connell over the last two decades. The Superintendent serves as the state’s chief spokesperson for public schools, and provides education policy and direction to local school districts. The Superintendent also serves as an ex officio member of governing boards of the state’s higher education system, including the CSU’s Board of Trustees.

Assembly member Tom Torlakson
Assembly Member and former Senator, Tom Torlakson (AD-11, Dem East Bay) has had his eye on this seat for some time. A former teacher, he began positioning himself for this seat with two years left in the Senate by notifying everyone that he would run for his old Assembly seat held by Mark DeSaulnier. Well regarded by his peers in Sacramento, Senator Torlakson chaired the Senate Appropriations Committee, and has been an advocate for education his whole career.

In 2005, Torlakson carried SB 569 on behalf of the CSU and the University of California. The bill gave public higher education institutions the ability to increase non-state resources for programs and student scholarships through services to recent graduates and alumni association members known as affinity programs.

An avid runner, bicyclist, and triathlete, Mr. Torlakson is the Chair and Founder of the California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness, a group seeking to raise the profile of health and fitness in the public schools and in the workplace. As an Assembly Member, Mr. Torlakson serves on the Education, Rules, Appropriations and Transportation committees. He has also been appointed the chair of the Assembly's Select Committee on Schools and Community. While a member of the State Senate, Mr. Torlakson chaired the Senate Majority Caucus, Senate Transportation and Housing committee and the Senate Local Government committee. He also served as a member of the Education, Transportation and Housing committees.

Mr. Torlakson received his B.A. in History in 1971, a Life Secondary Teaching Credential, and an M.A. in Education in 1977 from UC-Berkeley. He then went on to work as a science teacher in 1972 prior to being elected to the Antioch City Council in 1978, and then served on the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors for 16 years. In March of 2006, he received the CSU’s Legislator of the Year award. Assembly Member Tom Torlakson represents California's 11th Assembly District, which includes the northern half of Contra Costa County.

Senator Gloria Romero
Prior to her election to the Senate, Gloria Romero (SD-24, Dem Los Angeles) served as Vice President of the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustee – the largest community college district in the nation. She is a member of the California Faculty Association and received the Outstanding Faculty Member award by the Associated Students at Cal State LA after only her second year on faculty.

In 1998 she was elected to the California State Assembly where she served as Majority Whip. She was also elected by her peers to serve as Democratic Caucus Chair and Majority Leader. She then went on to serve this session as the Chair of both the Education Committee and the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee on Education, one of the most influential committees in the house.

As the Chair of the Education committee she has emphasized the importance of closing the achievement gap and creating an educational system that fosters success for all students. She has also authored numerous pieces of legislation seeking to restore accountability in our public school education system and is an advocate of college-readiness and workforce preparedness.

Senator Romero was elected to the 24th Senate District in 2001, representing East Los Angeles and the greater San Gabriel Valley. Senator Romero earned her PhD in Psychology at the University of California.

Larry Aceves
Retired San Jose Superintendent Larry Aceves is also running for state’s top education post and cites his more than 30 years of experience in California’s public schools as a former teacher, principal and superintendent. Mr. Aceves began his career in education in 1974 and worked at school districts in San Jose, San Diego and the Central Coast. He eventually served as the President of Association of California School Administrators, the largest educational leadership association in the nation. In that position, he worked with school superintendents, principals, and other educators around the state to address challenges and seek opportunities to provide students the best classroom experience possible.

As a school district superintendent, Mr. Aceves worked with the public and private sectors to establish programs and facilities including a free medical and dental clinic for low income children, preschool programs, parent and community centers, parent training centers, English Language Development programs and gang prevention training. He championed and maintained music, art, and physical education classes for all students, citing that schools in poorer areas should have just as much funding as those from wealthier areas. He also believes strongly that preparing students for both college and work must be a priority.

Mr. Aceves has stated that his first priority as Superintendent would be to work with the legislature to help them understand the critical need for adequate funding for all schools and programs. He notes on his website that California’s schools have struggled for decades with inadequate and inequitable funding and that our schools have the highest academic standards in the nation, but the lowest levels of school funding.

Diane Lenning
Diane Lenning is a high school teacher with over thirty years of experience in Los Angeles and Orange County public schools who also taught at the California Youth Authority. She is also an active member of the National Education Association (NEA) serving as a California State delegate to their Representative Assemblies. In that capacity, she served as Chair of the Republican Educators Caucus of the NEA. She also is a delegate to the Republican State Party as a member of the Los Angeles County Central Committee. \

Ms. Lenning graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 1970 with a B.A. degree in history, social sciences, and music. She added an M.A. from California State University, Long Beach in 1976 in secondary education. Further credentials at California State Universities, Long Beach and Fullerton include traffic and safety, administration, and she recently earned the CLAD credential for teaching English learners.