Latina lawmaker makes history in Pa. legislature

An educator with a political legacy will make history as the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the Pennsylvania legislature.

"I'm just a simple girl, humble girl from North Philadelphia," said Leslie Acosta.

Acosta describes herself that way even after her historic Election Day victory.

"Today I feel very accomplished. I feel that we did something together that I will never forget and it's something that I just feel very good about," she said.

The feeling is mutual for State Representative Angel Cruz who says Acosta will settle into Harrisburg just fine.

"She's not much to be trained. She knows she's got her foot on the ground but we are going to work together. Our dream is to show that unity, that we have to be able to bring more Hispanics to be in different branches of government," said State Rep. Cruz.

Acosta will be representing the 197th Legislative District, unfortunately overshadowed by controversy, after her predecessor JP Miranda was accused of funneling state payroll funds.

However as a professor at Esperanza College of Eastern University for years, this Latina says her focus is on improving education for everyone.

"And fair across the board - I think we really need to start having these conversations and start coming up with solutions for our children, they are the future. I see this as a community coalition and when you are able to evaluate things from a community perspective you are being inclusive," said Acosta.

That perspective, in part, is attributed to her father Ralph Acosta - a former Pennsylvania state representative and community activist in the 1980s and 1990s.

How does he feel about his daughter making history some 30 years later?

"Makes me proud, makes me feel strong, more willing and able to fight for more because it's never-ending. The badlands are still the badlands, poor people are still the poor people. Services are still not there, neglect is still there and the city officials and government officials don't look into our community. It's got to be us, the people in the community, fighting to take what we deserve," said Ralph Acosta.

A fight that the newly elected official says she is more than ready to take on.

"My father established his legacy and that legacy was about uniting people and fighting for people's rights. If it wouldn't be for him, I would not be starting this new legacy," said Acosta.