Donate

Meet Sara Deen

Sara Deen is the President of the Palos Verdes School Board, a Torrance small business owner, and a family dentist who believes South Bay families deserve leadership that delivers results — not excuses. She has built her career serving our community and delivering real results - Sara doesn’t just talk about the change we need; she takes action to make it happen.

Sara Deen walking and talking with voters in an office hallway.

A Problem Solver

Sara believes leadership means taking action, not making excuses. As School Board President and a SoCal ROC Board Member, she has worked to ensure taxpayer dollars go where they matter most: classrooms and students. Under her leadership, student achievement has improved year after year.

During her time in office, Sara has:

  • Expanded college and career pathways
  • Prioritized student safety and achievement
  • Fought to retain excellent teachers and school staff
  • Led the effort to pass a local school bond measure to modernize school facilities
Sara Deen talking with voters seated at a kitchen table.

A Small Business Owner

Sara understands firsthand the challenges facing local businesses. 

After opening a small urgent care clinic in Torrance, she experienced the complicated permitting processes, administrative burdens, and rising costs that many entrepreneurs face. With small businesses employing more than half of the South Bay workforce, Sara is committed to making it easier for local businesses — the backbone of our economy — to grow and succeed. 

Sara Deen speaking with a patient at her dental practice

A Healthcare Advocate

As a family dentist and healthcare small business owner, Sara sees every day how limited access to care affects families.

Insurance companies continue to raise rates and deny treatment while patients and small businesses pay the price. Sara has been a strong advocate for expanding access to care and ensuring healthcare works for patients — not just insurance companies.

Sara Deen meeting voters outdoors

A New Leader for the South Bay

Sara’s experience in education, healthcare, and small business gives her a clear understanding of the priorities of South Bay families.

That’s why she’s running for State Assembly — to bring a different approach to Sacramento focused on accountability, common-sense solutions, and putting people ahead of politics.

Sara is committed to:

  • Lowering everyday costs
  • Expanding access to quality healthcare
  • Strengthening public schools
  • Making it easier for families to live and retire in the communities they love

Her new approach to governing, unique perspective to policymaking, and record of getting things done has earned Sara the support of teachers, nurses, and education and healthcare workers who know she will stand up for South Bay families.

Sara lives in Palos Verdes with her husband, Omer, a practicing physician. Their two children attend El Camino College — one studying healthcare and the other entrepreneurship.

Sara's Journey

Early Life
Sara as Baji 1

Early Life

As the eldest of three children and twelve grandchildren, being a “baji”, or “big sister”, instilled in Sara a profound sense of duty, drive to care for others, and nurture the success of those around her.
Growing Up
Saras Family buys a home cropped 1

Growing Up

Growing up in California to hard-working immigrant parents who were focused on education and financial stability, Sara and her siblings spent weeknights being tutored by their father and weekends accompanying their parents as they performed maintenance repairs at their single-family rental home.
2014
Sara as Dentist

2014

In 2014, Sara and her family settled in the South Bay. Between private practice in Torrance and teaching at UCLA’s Advanced Dentistry program, Sara remained committed to providing excellent dental care, despite the insurance and financial challenges faced by her patients.
2019
Sara as Woman of the Year 1

2019

Sara was honored in the California State Legislature as “Woman of the Year” by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi for her work bringing people together across faiths and cultures to strengthen community in the South Bay.
2020
Sara against Predatory Lending 1

2020

Sara served as President of the South Coast Interfaith Council, promoting mutual respect and cooperation among people of faith while supporting neighbors experiencing homelessness and food insecurity in the Greater South Bay–Harbor region.
2021-23
Sara and New Ground

2021-23

Sara served as a facilitator for a high school leadership training program, equipping Jewish and Muslim students with the leadership skills to resolve conflict and build lasting relationships across cultural and faith groups.
2022-present
Sara as a School Board Member 1

2022-present

Since being elected to the Palos Verdes School Board, Sara has worked to ensure fiscal discipline and spend taxpayer dollars wisely. Under her leadership, student achievement has improved annually, and she led the effort to pass a critical local school bond measure for safety-related facilities' modernization.
2023
IMG 4099 1

2023

Sara and her husband became small business owners as they opened a small urgent care in Torrance, helping to expand access to healthcare in the South Bay.
2024
Sara and Measure SOS 1

2024

Sara organized with the Palos Verdes community to pass a local school bond measure, which will fund critical classroom repairs and student safety facilities needs.
2024
sara2025

2024

Sara joined the Advisory Board for Gardena High School’s Global Business Magnet Program, which specializes in a career-focused curriculum in finance, marketing, analytics, and entrepreneurship. Sara’s service is part of her effort to diversify college and career pathways for students.
2025
Sara working on Disaster Preparedness and school safety 1 e1772066068596

2025

Sara has led the effort to adopt a School Safety Framework for the school district to prevent school-based violence, school bullying (including cyber bullying), and disaster preparedness.
2025
SoCAL technical board

2025

Sara joined the SoCal ROC (SCROC) Board, a specialized public education entity designed to provide career-focused instruction serving high school and adult learners across the South Bay.