Assemblymember Mary Hayashi was elected to the California State Assembly in November 2006, representing District 18.  It includes the cities of Hayward, San Leandro, Dublin, most of Castro Valley and Pleasanton, and a portion of Oakland, as well as the unincorporated areas of Ashland, Cherryland, Sunol and San Lorenzo. Appointed by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez to his Assembly leadership team in December 2006, Assemblymember Hayashi currently holds the Assistant Majority Whip position of the Democratic Caucus. 

Assemblymember Hayashi’s legislative efforts reflect her commitment to protect seniors, promote access to health care, and support public education.  With health care reform being one of her greatest priorities, she provided vision care for retirees and their families through AB 1288, which is being carried out administratively, and increased Medi-Cal provider enrollment through AB 1226.  In accordance with the Assemblymember’s bill AB 509, the Department of Mental Health established the first-ever Office of Suicide Prevention, which will work to save the lives of thousands of Californians.  Among the 2007 Legislative Scorecards released by leading advocacy organizations, she received a 100% voting record from the Sierra Club and California League of Conservation Voters, a perfect pro-choice record by Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, a perfect score from the American Cancer Society, and recognition from the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) for an outstanding legislative voting record that protects consumers. 

Assemblymember Hayashi serves on several committees, including Budget, Budget Subcommittee #4 State Administration, Business and Professions, Health, and Revenue and Taxation.  She also serves as chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Community Colleges, where she is working to create more job opportunities in the growing green technology industry.  As demand grows for more environmentally-conscious technology, Assemblymember Hayashi is focusing on supporting community colleges as the key educators and trainers of this critically-needed workforce.

Assemblymember Hayashi has advised the nation's top policy leaders, and has established unprecedented partnerships in support of social causes that previously had no financial or public backing.  She is the former California Director of the American Public Health Association, where she was the lead consultant on a bioterrorism preparedness initiative in California.  In addition, she held an appointed position on the Board of Registered Nursing, which licenses and regulates registered nursing in California, and served on the boards of the Chabot Community College Foundation, Girls, Inc. of Alameda County, Planned Parenthood Golden Gate, and the National Breast Cancer Coalition.  Dedicated to promoting the mental health of children and families, Assemblymember Hayashi continues to serve as a Commissioner on the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, which monitors the implementation of mental health care services under Proposition 63. 

Assemblymember Hayashi's remarkable journey from her childhood in Korea to prominence as a health care leader is documented in her book, Far From Home: Shattering the Myth of the Model Minority. She has been honored by several organizations and institutions for her dedication to health and social issues.  Redbook magazine named Assemblymember Hayashi one of its “Mothers and Shakers,” and Ladies’ Home Journal cited her as a “Woman to Watch.”  The Alameda County Commission on the Status of Women named her a Women and Industry honoree, and the Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Center honored her with their 2004 Leadership Award. 

Assemblymember Hayashi earned a bachelor of science in applied economics from the University of San Francisco and a master of business administration from Golden Gate University. She resides in Castro Valley with her husband, Dennis Hayashi, a civil rights attorney.