On TV, Villaraigosa deflects questions about run for governor

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today deflected questions about a possible run for governor during an appearance on national television, stressing that he is focused on guiding the city through troubled economic times.

"I love Los Angeles. And I’m focused on this job," Villaraigosa said on CNN’s "State of the Union With John King." "I want to get people back to work. I want to continue to build on the foundation that we’ve done in the past."

After he won reelection last week, Villaraigosa said he was not ruling out a bid for governor and promised to be clear about his intentions. King pressed Villaraigosa to assess his chances in the statewide race given that he won just 55% of the vote in last week’s municipal election without any serious challengers.

"The fact of the matter is we won overwhelmingly," Villaraigosa responded. "But the important thing is that we’ve got a lot of work to do. I recognize that. I’m prepared to roll up my sleeves and work across partisan lines with business and labor, with everybody, with the Congress and the state to get the job done."

King retorted: "You sound like an almost-candidate there, Mr. Mayor."

Villaraigosa did not disagree.

-- Molly Hennessy-Fiske

Comments

[Carol]

He was essentially uncontested and he only got 55% locally (with 15% turnout). Finish your term, Antonio, repave Wilshire from the Sea to Downtown, then call it quits.

If Jerry Brown runs again for Governor (his old terms don't count under modern term limits), I think he'll be a shoo-in.

[Richard H]

"The fact of the matter is we won overwhelmingly,"

Yeah, against the likes of Walter Moore and Zuma Dogg.

The real winner in the Los Angeles Municipal Primary Election was apathy and indifference. 15% voter participation is nothing to boast about.

If term limits still apply, Tony V will be termed out as L.A. Mayor in 2013.

IF Tony V doesn't run for Governor in 2010 he might as well start planning his retirement to the "private sector" now.

[anonymous]

There are still 40,000 uncounted votes! Villar could very possibly be forced into an embarrassing run-off with Walter Moore, and I predict Walter would win!!!

The fact is...Villar is the worst mayor in the history of L.A.! He has ZERO chance of ever becoming Gov.!!! John King neglected to mention that Villar has 27 deputy mayors and 93 aides who do ALL of the day-to-day work in this city...badly, I might add!

Villar is a lame duck now...a perfect time to recall him! He has no more support outside of his corrupt cronies!

[phantom71]

Tony has done a lot for the community, however, I think he's reached his level of incompetence. he ran as an education mayor, cited LaGuardia as an influence, yet, the public schools are in shambles. He's yet to balance the city's budget, has allowed school days to run 180 days a year instead of working towards 220 like APAC countires. he did nothing when current gov arnold tried to roll the school days back to 175. he's not a high tech mayor, so, stressing technical skills in not in his DNA. wearing $1,000 suits to make speaches on skid row show that he's lost touch with the city that he loves. i am not concerned about his cheatinng on his wife, (no one is perfect) yet the energy he took to cover it up could have been better used to rebuild our city. no...let him finish out his career as mayor and say good bye. he couldn't run a city that has 23% of it's polulace living below the poverty line, we'll be in real trouble if he tries to do the same with the state of CA.

[Paleta Fresca]

Mr. Mayor... uh, you are an embarrassment to mayors, already a shaky proposition. I have little doubt you will lose huge as candidate for Governor.