Los Angeles — Equality California today announced the endorsements of San Diego Supervisor Dave Roberts for re-election to the San Diego Board of Supervisors, MarikoYamada for California State Senate, representing District 3 (Davis), and Mae Torlakson for State Assembly, representing District 14 (Antioch).
Dave Roberts was the first openly gay man ever elected to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, and the first Democrat elected in two decades. He is a member of Equality California’s board of directors and was honored in 2013 with the organization’s Vanguard Leadership Award. Previously, he served as an appointed health policy advisor to President Obama and former President George W. Bush, where he earned national recognition for reducing costs and improving the delivery of Medicare, Medicaid and children’s health insurance coverage. Roberts lives in Solana Beach with his husband and has five adopted children.
“We are pleased to give our endorsement to Supervisor Dave Roberts,” said Rick Zbur, executive director of Equality California. “His visibility as an openly-LGBT elected official and his record of commitment to the health and wellbeing of LGBT people and all residents of San Diego County make him an outstanding leader.”
Mariko Yamada seeks to represent California Senate District 3, a seat currently held by Sen. Lois Wolk. Yamada served as a Yolo County supervisor, as well as in the California Assembly from 2008-2014, where she earned a 100-percent Equality Score from Equality California. Yamada is the daughter of Japanese-American wartime internees, and has spent her career, both as a social worker and in government, advancing the civil rights of LGBT people and the many diverse communities of which they are a part.
“Mariko Yamada was a strong ally of the LGBT community during her time in the Assembly,” said Zbur. “She will continue to be an effective advocate for a fairer and more equal California in the Senate.”
Mae Torlakson hopes to represent California Assembly District 14, currently represented by Asm. Susan Bonilla. Torlakson currently works helping educationally disadvantaged students pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and has led in the creation of mentoring partnerships with businesses. She has a long history of supporting the LGBT community and is a member of the Stonewall Democratic Club of Solano County.
“LGBT kids face widespread bullying and lack of acceptance in school, leading to high rates of dropout, depression and a suicide rate four times higher than their non-LGBT peers,” said Zbur. “And Mae Torlakson will be an enthusiastic and compassionate advocate for LGBT people, especially for LGBT youth in schools,”
The Equality California Political Action Committee endorses viable candidates who have a proven track record of supporting equal rights and legal protections for LGBT Californians and who are committed to advancing these goals in their capacity as elected officials.
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Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization dedicated to creating a fair and just society. Our mission is to achieve and maintain full and lasting equality, acceptance, and social justice for all people in our diverse LGBT communities, inside and outside of California. Our mission includes advancing the health and well-being of LGBT Californians through direct healthcare service advocacy and education. Through electoral, advocacy, education and mobilization programs, we strive to create a broad and diverse alliance of LGBT people, educators, government officials, communities of color and faith, labor, business, and social justice communities to achieve our goals. www.eqca.org