No run for governor by Villaraigosa -- yet

A day after San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced that he is exploring a run for governor, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa deflected questions about whether he will join what is expected to be a packed field of Democrats.

"I’m focused on my job. I loving being mayor of Los Angeles," Villaraigosa said at an afternoon news conference where he touted the city’s overall drop in violent crimes (except for homicides).

You’ll notice that didn’t say that he won’t run for governor in 2010.

Villaraigosa is raising money as fast as he can for his mayoral reelection campaign, so if he does decide to run for governor it may not be for a year or so.

The first open-seat governor's race in 12 years is expected to draw a crowded field of Democratic hopefuls, including former governor and current Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi and former Controller Steve Westly, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2006.

—Phil Willon