Former state senator and assemblymember Nell Soto passed away Thursday. She was 82.
Soto represented California's 32nd Senate District and stepped down last March because of declining health. Soto also served on the Pomona City Council from 1986 to 1998.
The Daily Bulletin has an article by Mediha Fejzagic DiMartino about Soto's life and political career. It quotes Soto's granddaughter, Danielle Soto, who herself was elected to Pomona's City Council this past November:
In 2007, Danielle spent her summer break working with her grandmother in Sacramento where she gained first hand insight to the legislative process.
"I was grandma's right hand woman," Soto said. "If you needed an appointment you had to go through me."
Some of the lawmakers would tell her "I remember you when you were just this high."
Danielle accompanied Soto to the state capitol every day and attended floor sessions with her.
"That was very good political education," Danielle said. "To see the way she was viewed at the state level, her professional manner, because she was just a grandma to me."
When Danielle was elected last year to the same seat on Pomona City Council, her grandma was happy and supportive.
"She told me `Just listen in the beginning, don't form your opinion, listen and learn'," Danielle said.
"I'll miss the benefit of her wisdom and knowledge ... But I'm just going to miss her more as a granddaughter."
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