Phil Soto

Phillip Lewis "Phil" Soto (born March 3, 1926 in Los Angeles , † November 4, 1997 in Pomona ) was an American politician ( Democratic Party ). He pioneered the equality of the Hispanic population in California and was a role model for later Hispanic politicians.

Soto was born in Boyle Heights , a predominantly Jewish district of Los Angeles at the time. During World War II , he served as a bombardier in the South Pacific. After the war, thanks to the GI Bill , he was able to train himself as a television technician and then set up his own business. In 1948 he married Nell Garcia .

Phil Soto became politically active shortly after the war when he campaigned for the rights of Hispanic veterans. In the mid-1950s he actively ran the incorporation of the city of La Puente . Soto was its first mayor in 1958 and on the city council until 1962. That year he was elected to the California State Assembly . Together with John Moreno , he was one of the first two Latino MPs. Soto was re-elected in 1964, but two years later he had no chance due to the redesign of the constituencies .

In 1966 Soto took part in the United Farm Workers' protest march organized by César Chávez and also supported his colleague Dolores Huerta . In the late 1960s, President Lyndon B. Johnson made Soto head of a poverty reduction program for East Los Angeles , a position he held until 1988. Phil then supported his wife Nell in starting her political career.

Phil Soto died of lung cancer in 1997 at the age of 71, according to his family .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c} Phil Soto; Latino Politician and Activist . Los Angeles Times . November 5, 1997. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
2. ^ ^{A b c d} Phil Soto, Hispanic Political Leader, Dies at 71 . New York Times . November 6, 1997. Retrieved April 7, 2014.

Web links

• Short biography of Phil Soto (English)
• Obituary in the US Congress by Esteban Edward Torres

predecessor	Office	successor
Ronald B. Cameron	California State Assembly District 50 1962--1966	William P. Campbell