Senator Nell Soto (D – Pomona) is pleased to announce that she will be one of the recipients of the “1st Annual Jack Phillips Award” as recognized by the governing boards of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments and the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership.

The award, to be presented at a June 16 event commemorating the 10th anniversaries of both organizations, recognizes individuals who have made “outstanding contributions to the betterment of the San Gabriel Valley.”

The award is named after the late Jack Phillips, a long-time leader in the valley who passed away last year. The ceremony is slated to begin at 6 p.m. at the Pacific Palms Conference Resort, One Industry Hills Parkway, Industry Hills.

Prior to her arrival in the Legislature in 1998, Soto spent many years in local government, and she was the first woman from the San Gabriel Valley to be elected to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, where she established a reputation as a problem solver who worked effectively with environmentalists, industry and community leaders.

“Even though I have had the great honor of serving in the Capitol for over six years, I have never lost sight of the people back home,” Soto said. “In one way or another, every member of the Legislature got their start in the community, and it is very important to me to hold on to the fact that everything we do, every vote we cast, impacts our constituents at home.

“I deeply appreciate the fact that these fine people, who are committed to bettering the lives of the people of the San Gabriel Valley, consider me a worthy recipient of this award.”

Other award recipients:

• Robert Bartlett, former mayor of the city of Monrovia and former president of the California Leagueof Cities;
• Gene Dryden, former mayor of the city of San Marino;

• James Starbird, city manager of Glendale;

• Judy Wright, former mayor of the city of Claremont.