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Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa revealed Wolf Blitzer today that he will not run for Governor. "The answer's no. I make that decision because like I've said many times, I love the city I was born and raised in, the city my grandpa came to 100 years ago," he told Blitzer.
"Cities are on the frontlines of the challenges facing us in terms of the economic crisis," he continued. "Here in the City of LA, 12.5% unemployment rate, 21,000 people have lost their home over the last 2 years, we're facing a unprecedented and historical budget deficit of $530 million dollars. I feel compelled to complete what I started out to do. I said to Los Angeles four years ago to dream with me. i said we would take on the many challenges that we face in the city: public school and public safety, the issue of the environment. I said that we would do everything we could to come together as a city. I can't leave this city in the middle of a crisis, that's as simple as that."
Today's news comes as a bit of a shock since in a recent LA Times poll, Villaraigosa landed 38% of those polled, with former Governor and current Attorney General Jerry Brown and San Francisco Mayor receiving 32% and 13%, respectively. And in SFist's casual poll, Villaraigosa garnered 19%, with Brown and Newsom taking in 50% and 31%, respectively.
Villaraigosa's departure from the race leaves ample room for Newsom or Brown to take Sacramento.
SFist asked Gavin Newsom for comment. We'll update when he responds.
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I hope Jerry Brown is in good health...
we're facing a unprecedented and historical budget deficit of $530 dollars
tough times, indeed.
"I can't leave this city in the middle of a crisis"
Gavin, it turns out, doesn't feel a similar obligation.
Either his fundraising numbers didn't look good, or his head-to-head numbers against projected GOP opponents didn't look good. Or maybe he wasn't pulling over 50% in the primary and his head-to-head against Brown didn't look good.
Regardless, it sure as heck wasn't about helping LA.
maybe he checked out the spanish speaking media talent and sac-tucky and said no friggin' way. i'm staying in la!
He remains committed to L.A., as well as to banging TV news reporters.
being the mayor better come with some perks, amirite?
The Newsom political machine is hard at work convincing you that the Newsom political machine is the best machine built for aspirations of higher public office. Despite the fact that junior levels of governing were far beyond his grasp, he really wants to test the Peter Principle to its maximum based on good looks and money.
This guy ain't no Kennedy and we would all be better off without him.
Do us all a favor Gavster and go back to running overpriced annoying restaurants in overpriced annoying parts of town. It really is where you belong.
oh wait, sorry. I meant to say that now there is only one morally bankrupt politician (double negative?) running for Governor. I was really hoping to see the campaign ads pitting one morally decrepit scumbag against another morally decrepit scumbag.
Hey guys, you can all vote for Gavin, just don't leave your significant other alone with him for more than 10 seconds or he'll have his tongue down their throat and his Gucci's around his ankles.
It's amazing that in 2009 that the intelligent choice has to be Jerry Brown. Go figure.
Thank God the election isn't until 2010.
and not for nothing, but Moonbeam's record as Governor from '75 to '83 wasn't too shabby.
interesting posts robin. i take it you are the kind of guy that if cheated on, would blame the 3rd party and not your willing spouse/partner?