Pa. state representative to make history

HUNTING PARK (WPVI) -- When the Pennsylvania State Assembly is sworn in Tuesday, one member from Philadelphia will be making history.

State Representative-elect Leslie Acosta is the first Latina in state history to be elected to the general assembly.

Her 197th district runs across the northside from Hunting Park to Fairhill to parts of North Philadelphia.

She has no illusions about Harrisburg; her predecessor has been busted for corruption.

"I don't owe this position to anyone other than the people who elected me to office," Acosta said.

She is not in awe or fear from the entrenched powers in Harrisburg, from the Republican majorities in the house and senate to the lobbyists who roam that town.

"The political structure in Harrisburg is really tainted, it has no credibility to be quite honest with you, and I think we need to start electing individuals that are above that," Acosta said.

The vast majority of Acosta's district is impoverished. More state funding for education is a serious concern here.

"Our children need more resources in order for them to learn and the teachers need more resources, too," Phillippa Elliot of North Philadelphia said.

One of her constituents Derek Lee offered Acosta luck before her first day.

"You got to address everything. There's so much going on. You've got your work cut out for you. I wish you the best of luck," Lee said.

Acosta says she will fight for stronger gun control laws and will battle any new Republican efforts to impose voter ID laws in the commonwealth.

"I think it was a naked attempted to suppress the vote," Acosta said.

Representative Acosta promises to be an aggressive, relentless advocate for her constituency.

She'll be sworn in at noon Tuesday at the State Capitol in Harrisburg.