Hunter Defeats Soto in City Council Race

POMONA — In a special election to fill the City Council seat vacated by Democratic Assemblywoman Nell Soto, a city planning commissioner has edged out the state lawmaker’s daughter.

George E. Hunter defeated Anna M. Soto by 82 votes Tuesday in the District 1 election.

Hunter will now serve out the remainder of Nell Soto’s term, which expires in November 2000. Hunter, 45, was outspent nearly 3 to 1 by Anna Soto, the front-runner with a slew of endorsements.

Hunter received 541 votes compared to Anna Soto’s 459 in an election with a 16% turnout. Although some absentee ballots still must be verified and counted, they are not enough to change the outcome, according to the city clerk’s office.

A co-founder of a local anti-crime group, Hunter will be sworn in Monday.

A victory by Soto, 37, a deputy to county Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, would have created a political dynasty. Her father, Phil Soto, was one of the first Latinos elected to the Assembly and served from 1962 to 1966. Nell Soto, after 11 years on the Pomona council, won the 61st Assembly District seat in November.