Nell Soto

{{Short description|American politician}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}

{{More citations needed|date=March 2009}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Nell Soto

|image = Nell Soto, 2000.jpg

|caption = Soto in 2000

|birth_date = {{birth date|1926|6|18}}

|birth_place = Pomona, California, US

|death_date = {{death date and age|2009|2|26|1926|6|18}}

|death_place = Pomona, California, US

|state_assembly = California

|district = 61st

|term = December 4, 2006 – November 30, 2008

|preceded = Gloria Negrete McLeod

|succeeded = Norma J. Torres

|term1 = December 7, 1998 – March 13, 2000

|preceded1 = Fred Aguiar

|succeeded1 = Gloria Negrete McLeod

|state_senate2 = California

|district2 = 32nd

|term2 = March 13, 2000 – November 30, 2006

|preceded2 = Joe Baca

|succeeded2 = Gloria Negrete McLeod

|party = Democratic

|spouse = {{marriage|Phil Soto|1949|November 4, 1997|end=died}}

|children = 6

|education =

}}

Nell Soto (June 18, 1926 – February 26, 2009) was an American politician. Soto represented the 61st Assembly district (including parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties and the cities of Ontario, Pomona, Chino and Montclair) from 1998 to 2000 and again from 2006 to 2008. She served two terms as a state senator for the 32nd district from 2000 to 2006.

Soto served on the Pomona city council from 1986 until 1998. Soto also served on the South Coast Air Quality Management District.{{cite web|url=http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/6075|title=Nell Soto|publisher=JoinCalifornia}} She was the first Latina from the San Gabriel Valley to be elected to that position.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} In 2006, she authored legislation that included expansion of the Nell Soto Teacher Involvement program, improving foster care licensing, and improving welfare to work programs.

Soto was married to Phil Soto, a pioneering Latino politician in California's history.[https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/06/us/phil-soto-hispanic-political-leader-dies-at-71.html] New York Times Obituary: Phil Soto, Hispanic Political Leader, Dies at 71 (Nov. 6, 1997) Soto died on February 26, 2009, after months of declining health.[https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-nell-soto27-2009feb27-story.html] Los Angeles Times Obituary: Nell Soto dies at 82; California state senator championed environmental protection (Feb. 27, 2009)