Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the life of Diane Porter Cooley, a pillar of the Pajaro Valley and Santa Cruz County community. Born to a family that settled in Santa Cruz County in the 1850s, Diane was raised on Las Lomas Ranch in Watsonville. Diane had a deep connection to the land and to the people of the central coast of California. Her father, Tom, was one of the four founders of Driscoll's Berries, and Diane continued her involvement with agriculture until her passing earlier this year. A deeply passionate civic leader, Diane worked tirelessly to protect and preserve the environment and was an outspoken advocate for the people of the Pajaro Valley. She was a dynamic agent of change who championed the creation of the Elkhorn Slough Foundation, the Pajaro Valley Arts Council, the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, and the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. Madam Speaker, Diane Cooley's outreach and philanthropy extended far and wide throughout our community. As Santa Cruz County bids farewell to its beloved daughter of 95 years, may her legacy of giving continue to inspire all of us for generations to come. ____________________”