California 94.77%
District of Columbia 2.53%
Pennsylvania 1.08%
Texas 0.36%
Other 1.26%
Tony Thurmond is running for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, because he has been a lifelong advocate for children and families, and believes that restoring our public schools is key to California’s future.
Education saved Tony's life, enabling him to overcome humble beginnings. Tony's mother emigrated from Panama to San Jose to teach, and raised four children on her own until she lost her battle to cancer when Tony was 6 years old. Tony was raised by a cousin whom he had never met and who ensured he received a great education.
It was Tony's public school education that prepared him for college, where he became student body president, and for a twenty-year career as a social worker and twelve years working in schools, teaching career training, life skills, and civics. Ultimately Tony was inspired to serve on the West Contra Costa Unified School District Board, the Richmond City Council, and now in the California State Assembly.
Tony has made improving and investing in public education his top priority in the California State Assembly. Tony serves on the Assembly Education Committee and he is the Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education. Tony passed legislation that moved millions of dollars from prisons to local schools, and he is working to pass a tax on private prisons that would generate hundreds of millions of dollars for preschool and afterschool programs. Tony has introduced legislation to increase funding for computer science education, bilingual education, and special education. Tony has coauthored legislation to provide scholarships to anyone who wants to become a teacher and he is working to provide affordable housing to teachers so that teachers can live in the communities where they teach.
As Superintendent, Tony's priority will be to ensure all of California’s kids have the opportunity to receive a great public school education and are prepared for the 21st Century economy. Tony will improve vocational education and college preparedness with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math, and encourage teaching that builds creative and critical thinking, not teaching to the test. Tony will make college affordable and work to increase school funding by shifting millions from prisons into early education and after-school programs. Tony will create an education rainy day fund to protect against President Trump and Betsy DeVos's agenda to defund our public schools.
Tony is the only candidate endorsed by the California Democratic Party, the Los Angeles Times, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, current Superintendent Tom Torlakson, teachers, nurses, firefighters, Planned Parenthood, and Equality California.
Learn more about Tony and his plan to make California's public schools #1 in the nation at www.tonythurmond.com.
