Longtime California political leader John Burton dies at 92

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KGO) -- Former U.S. Rep. John Burton, a salty-tongued and unabashedly wide San Francisco Democrat who stood up for the moving people and nurtured countless governmental careers, including that of erstwhile U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, died Sunday. He was 92.

Burton died successful San Francisco of earthy causes, his household said successful a statement.

Burton was a subordinate of the U.S. House of Representatives and the California State Legislature, and a erstwhile Chair of the California Democratic Party, with a vocation spanning for decades.

"John Burton devoted his vocation to advancing justice, expanding opportunity, and lasting up for moving families," according to Senator Alex Padilla. (D-CA).

Former State Sen. John Burton, D-San Francisco, speaks astatine the California Democratic Party Convention successful Sacramento, Calif., Saturday, April 25, 2009.

(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Burton "led the combat to grow entree to healthcare, strengthened protections for workers, accrued backing for education, and helped found our authorities arsenic a nationalist illustration for civilian rights and biology protection, portion fiercely advocating for these halfway California values connected the national signifier successful the U.S. House of Representatives," Padilla added.

Burton was mentor to galore politicians, including Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi.

"Personally, I volition everlastingly beryllium grateful to John for managing my precise archetypal run for Congress successful 1987, to capable the spot that belonged archetypal to his brother, Philip, and past his sister-in-law, Sala. And for much than 3 decades successful the Congress, I was blessed to person John arsenic a root of omniscient counsel, dependable judgement and brash wit - and helium ever served arsenic a changeless reinvigoration of my inspiration to transportation connected the combat For The People," Pelosi said successful a statement.

Burton was calved successful Cincinnati and grew successful San Francisco. He attended Lincoln High School successful San Francisco earlier receiving his Bachelor of Arts from San Francisco State University (formerly San Francisco State College) successful 1954.

Burton served successful the U.S. Army from 1954-1956. Then, helium received his JD from the University of San Francisco successful 1960, according to Congress.

At property 32, Burton dove into politics, similar his brother, the precocious Phillip Burton.

John was a subordinate of the California State Legislature from 1965-1974. For 1 year, helium was the president of the California authorities Democratic Party from 1973-1974.

Then for 9 years, from June 4, 1974-January 3, 1983, Burton served successful Congress.

Tributes poured successful from California's apical politicians, who recalled Burton arsenic a fierce and tireless advocator for laborers, foster children and the environment. Over the years, Burton mentored Pelosi, erstwhile U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, existent U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla and countless different California officials.

Governor Gavin Newsom wrote connected X:

"When it comes to California politics, determination was nary 1 similar John Burton. A legendary powerhouse that breathed beingness into our enactment and fought for a amended California for everyone - uniting Democrats crossed race, belief, and background. His candor, passion, and empathy were contagious. May his bequest of courageousness and condemnation unrecorded connected successful each of us. Rest successful peace, my friend."

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi wrote:

"Our federation has mislaid a ferocious champion for moving families. John Burton was a towering progressive warrior and beloved person whose large heart, crisp caput and boundless combat for justness shaped California and America. Paul and I mourn his passing with emotion for his family."

Another erstwhile San Francisco mayor, Willie Brown, said Sunday that decease had managed to abstracted him from a beloved person who was by his broadside for decades - arsenic assemblage students wherever they archetypal met, arsenic chap newbies successful the authorities Assembly and arsenic influential members of California's Democratic governmental machine.

Senator Alex Padilla issued a statement, penning successful part:

"John was bluntly honorable and ne'er shied distant from a combat if it meant protecting the susceptible and giving a dependable to the voiceless - a ngo helium carried connected adjacent aft his governmental vocation by providing a pathway to a amended beingness for thousands of foster younker and securing billions of dollars to put successful their success."

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan wrote connected X.

"I'm saddened to larn of John Burton's passing. Among his multitude of admirable qualities for which helium volition beryllium praised successful the days to come, his vulnerability and courageousness successful owning and recovering from cause addiction is what astir inspired me. Thank you, Senator. Rest successful peace."

Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) issued a connection writing:

"John Burton was a elephantine of San Francisco & California politics. He moved mountains for our assemblage & stood up for progressive values adjacent erstwhile it wasn't popular. His passing is simply a immense loss. As authoritarianism rises, John's representation gives america resoluteness to fight. Rest successful power."

Burton believed that authorities was astatine its champion erstwhile it served those who needed it the most, and helium ne'er backed down from a fight, said authorities Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks.

"The top mode to grant John Burton is to support warring with the aforesaid grit, tenacity, and bosom that defined his life," Hicks said successful a statement.

"He cared a lot," said Burton's daughter, Kimiko Burton. "He ever instilled successful maine that we combat for the underdog. There are virtually millions of radical whose lives helium helped implicit the years who person nary thought who helium is."

This communicative is developing. Check backmost for updates.

The Associated Press' Janie Har contributed to this study