"SAN FRANCISCO - Former U.S. Rep. John Burton, a salty-tongued and unabashedly liberal San Francisco Democrat who stood up for the working class and nurtured countless political careers, including that of former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, died Sunday. He was 92. Burton died in San Francisco of natural causes, his family said in a statement. Tributes poured in from California's top politicians, who recalled Burton as a fierce and tireless advocate for laborers, foster children and the environment."
"Over the years, Burton mentored Pelosi, former U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, current U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla and countless other California officials. "There was no greater champion for the poor, the bullied, the disabled, and forgotten Californians than John Burton. He was a towering figure - a legendary force whose decades of service shaped our state and our politics for the better," said Gov. Gavin Newsom, a former mayor of San Francisco, in a statement."
"Another former San Francisco mayor, Willie Brown, said Sunday that death had managed to separate him from a dear friend who was by his side for decades - as college students where they first met, as fellow newbies in the state Assembly and as influential members of California's Democratic political machine. "John Burton may have been the best person with whom I served as a member of the Legislature," said Brown."
John Lowell Burton, a longtime liberal San Francisco Democrat and former U.S. representative, died at 92 of natural causes in San Francisco. He championed the working class, laborers, foster children and environmental causes and mentored many California politicians including Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer and Alex Padilla. Top officials praised him as a towering champion for the poor and forgotten, and colleagues recalled decades-long friendship and partnership in California politics. Party leaders urged continued activism in his spirit. His daughter said he instilled fighting for the underdog and that millions benefited from his work without knowing him.
Read at The Mercury News
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]