Former Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), California State Assembly
In 1996, Asian Week described Maeley Tom as “one of the most powerful and influential non-elected political Asian American figures in politics” because of her career accomplishments and contributions to the empowerment of the Asian American voice in politics and government at the state and national level.
Maeley Tom’s 20-year career in the California State Legislature was during an era when Asian Americans were struggling to find a voice in politics and public policy. During this period, she shattered the glass ceiling multiple times by becoming the first woman and ethnic minority to serve as the Chief Administrative Officer of the State Assembly and subsequently serve as the Chief of Staff to the President of the State Senate. Today she holds the unique distinction of being the only professional to have served in chief executive positions of both houses. The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento Magazine, and The California Journal recognized Maeley as one of the most influential political figures in the California Legislature during this period.
She subsequently joined Cassidy & Associates in Washington D.C. as a senior vice president before she and her husband formed their own public affairs consulting company Tom & Associates.
During her tenure at the State Capitol, she created programs to inspire and mentor Asian Americans to become more engaged in the political process which was instrumental in motivating more Asian Americans to run for elected office.
In 1987, she organized the first national Asian American Democratic Conference inviting democratic U.S. presidential candidates to address Asian American issues before a national public forum for the first time in U.S. history.
Her 30 years of campaign experience include serving as the Deputy Director of the California Dukakis presidential campaign. She subsequently served as an advisor on Asian American issues to three presidential campaigns and four California gubernatorial campaigns including Jerry Brown’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign.
President Ronald Reagan appointed her to serve on the Women’s Business Ownership Commission in 1983 and President Clinton appointed her to represent the U.S. at the United Nations Women’s World Conference Platform Committee in New York in 1995.
Maeley has held numerous board leadership positions across government, public service, and advocacy organizations for nearly 50 years including serving as the founding President of the California APIA Legislative Caucus Institute and co-founder of the Association of Asian American Investment Managers Assn.
She became the first non-elected Asian to serve on the Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee and the first Asian American to serve on the California State Personnel Board. In addition, she served on the Board of Administration of the California Public Employees Retirement System [CalPERS], the National Asian Women Health Organization and the California Senate and Assembly Fellowship Board.
Maeley received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology/Psychology from the California State University of San Francisco and attended the Stanford Law School Executive Education Program. She is a published author of her memoir “I am not who you think I am.”
