To Run or Not to Run? That's the question Calbuzz.com Editors Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine ask today with commentaries by political consultant Richie Ross and me. They offer this context for the debate on whether Mayor Villaraigosa will run for governor in 2010:
At the start of 2009, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
looked like a
surefire, top-rank contender to succeed Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Apparently poised for easy re-election, he exuded confidence, even
brashness, standing atop a strong base of labor and Latinos on which to
build a statewide campaign.
Since then, however, the mayor has suffered a series of political setbacks, beginning with his underwhelming 55 percent re-election on March 3 against a weak field, and his city has become mired in the same kind of fiscal mess afflicting California government at every level.
Amid that backdrop, the calendar presents him with a tactical handicap in the Democratic race; he won't be sworn in for his second term until July, effectively stalling his candidacy, while Attorney General Jerry Brown (not formally a candidate) and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (a declared candidate) have both been politically active for months.
For now, Newsom has a clear field in sniping at the front-runner Brown, styling himself as the Obama-like tribune of new politics against the old school Brown, the front-runner for the nomination. If Villaraigosa gets in, the shape of the race instantly changes, as he and Newsom will elbow and crowd each other as they try to position themselves as the chief challenger to the attorney general.
At this point, Villaraigosa himself is the only one who knows if that will happen or not. The indications we have say that he has genuinely not yet made that decision. As a practical matter, it's not a choice that will wait much longer; lacking independent wealth, the L.A. mayor has to go out and grub for contributions like almost every candidate in California, and he's already months behind in the money primary.
At the start of 2009, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
looked like a
surefire, top-rank contender to succeed Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Apparently poised for easy re-election, he exuded confidence, even
brashness, standing atop a strong base of labor and Latinos on which to
build a statewide campaign.Since then, however, the mayor has suffered a series of political setbacks, beginning with his underwhelming 55 percent re-election on March 3 against a weak field, and his city has become mired in the same kind of fiscal mess afflicting California government at every level.
Amid that backdrop, the calendar presents him with a tactical handicap in the Democratic race; he won't be sworn in for his second term until July, effectively stalling his candidacy, while Attorney General Jerry Brown (not formally a candidate) and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (a declared candidate) have both been politically active for months.
For now, Newsom has a clear field in sniping at the front-runner Brown, styling himself as the Obama-like tribune of new politics against the old school Brown, the front-runner for the nomination. If Villaraigosa gets in, the shape of the race instantly changes, as he and Newsom will elbow and crowd each other as they try to position themselves as the chief challenger to the attorney general.
At this point, Villaraigosa himself is the only one who knows if that will happen or not. The indications we have say that he has genuinely not yet made that decision. As a practical matter, it's not a choice that will wait much longer; lacking independent wealth, the L.A. mayor has to go out and grub for contributions like almost every candidate in California, and he's already months behind in the money primary.
Ron Kaye is the former editor of the Los Angeles Daily News where he spent 23 years helping to make the newspaper the voice of the San Fernando Valley and fighting for a city government that serves the people and not special interests.
Twice in recent years, Los Angeles Magazine listed Kaye among the city’s most influential people, specifically in the area of politics. Kaye has been variously described in the media as the “accidental anarchist,” “the Patrick Henry of the San Fernando Valley” and a “passionate populist.” He is now committed to
carrying on his crusade for a greater Los Angeles as an ordinary citizen. Previously, Ron worked at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner,
Associated Press, Cleveland Plain Dealer and The Australian as well as papers
in Fairbanks, Alaska and Yakima, Wash. He also wrote for Newsweek magazine, The Guardian in London and the National Enquirer.
55%, Measure B, Jack Weiss, pot holes, unbalanced budget despite flim flam assumptions, unfair labor charges filed by unions, massive deficit next year. What a record.
If taking advantage of photo ops was the measure of a successful Mayor, Tony is the clear winner.
Money Problems?????? He has his hand in the pockets of every developer, commissioner board, appointed CEO's he has ever dealt with thru his payola, mafia politico. Particularly the CEO @ HACLA who makes more money than the President of the United States. Yet boy Villa comes out on the cuts we must endure as taxpayers and poor ones at best while his buddies collect undue unearned income in excess of many hard working indiviuals with a brain.
Awwwwwh, what a shame.
Then all California could share with
us the ever-amazing talents of this joker.
In 35 years of living in Los Angeles, I never remember having a mayor who is so disliked as this one. He and his staff have managed to make enemies with almost every group one can imagine outside of groups one shouldn't associate with in the first place. And the city council is next in line for public scorn. To think these folks have been bragging about their world travels on the public dime , and what we're left with is a city in staggering financial deficit, a public that can't afford summer school for kids and they continue to raise every fee imaginable.
Forget fixing the potholes, use the tar - with some feathers- on the LA politicians.
In 35 years of living in Los Angeles, I never remember having a mayor who is so disliked as this one. He and his staff have managed to make enemies with almost every group one can imagine outside of groups one shouldn't associate with in the first place. And the city council is next in line for public scorn. To think these folks have been bragging about their world travels on the public dime , and what we're left with is a city in staggering financial deficit, a public that can't afford summer school for kids and they continue to raise every fee imaginable.
Forget fixing the potholes, use the tar - with some feathers- on the LA politicians.
"In 35 years of living in Los Angeles, I never remember having a mayor who is so disliked as this one."
You moved into L.A. in 1974 and just missed Sam Yorty. Much as AV is disliked, traveling Sam was worse. (I don't want any arguments from Yorty admirers. You couldn't have been around when Yorty was Mayor.)
I've lived in Los Angeles 55 years. Things aren't as bad now as they have been in the past.
Air pollution isn't as bad as it used to be. When was the last stage one smog alert? Most people have probably forgotten those.
The crime rate isn't like it was in the 1980's and 1990's, especially the murder rate that peaked in 1980 and 1992. I don't notice the tensions that existed before the Rodney King riots in 1992 and in the immediate aftermath. The City isn't under curfew like it was in 1992. I'm not hearing gunfire every night like I used to during the 1990's.
Do people have fond memories of those years? Do they think things were better then than now? Do they really want to go back to things being the way they were then? Was Tom Bradley so much better that Tony Villar?
The voter apathy though is disgusting. The voter turnout for the November, 2008 presidential election was a one time freak event, IMO. Apathy, indifference and cynicism prevail.
1:59 am You must work for the mayor Villa.
Even Bradley was a mess Ive been here 60 yrs and no one was just "in your face" like boy Villa. Now he has another "girl friend" romancing and screwing around while the city pays the bills he created with his penis and his friends in development and construction. the little prick
Wake up assholes
How much will this broad cost us???
How will she impact the transparancy of your calendar/schedule. Not to mention the embarassment for your family. Totally disqusting and now you want to be governor.
You tube videos of the Mayor. We need more of them. Continue to expose this joker to those who remain clueless or ambivalent.
6:54 AM.
No I do not work for Tony Villa, err, Villar. I don't belong to any public employees union. I don't "qualify" for a city job. Ask Sonia Sotomayor how that works.
I'm a just a taxpayer living in this city.
I have never voted for AV. I voted for Walter Moore in that joke of a mayoral primary in March, 2009.
No offense to L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa, but Mr. Kaye can you please stop posting Villaraigosa’s high school photo and post current photos whenever possible.
Will that stop former Miss USAs from dating him. What losers these women are. They have everything & all they can find is a loser.
"Will that stop former Miss USAs from dating him. What losers these women are. They have everything & all they can find is a loser."
She probably lives on the Westside. It's either AV or date women. I understand her problem.
Here’s a current photo of Mayor Villaraigosa.
Thanks to Mayor Sam’s Sister City
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18wS9ipD9yM/SiaPDhiYvSI/AAAAAAAAAFM/mo_W1fL0vhI/s1600-h/610x.jpg