Deja Vu? Villaraigosa, TV reporter seen at Larchmont bookstore

Over the weekend, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was spotted perusing the merchandise in a Larchmont bookstore with a local television reporter who is also a former Miss USA. 

Earlier today, NBC Channel 4’s L.A. news website posted a story about the sighting, including a snapshot of the two together inside Chevalier’s bookstore with the mayor casually dressed, wearing shades and having a laugh. The woman, Lu Parker of KTLA Channel 5, is a general assignment news reporter and weekend anchor for the station.

And that made it newsworthy, given that the mayor’s prior relationship with a different TV reporter coincided with the widely publicized breakup of his marriage.

“Witnesses say they did not hold hands or kiss, but appeared very chummy,” the NBC Channel 4 story said. “Parker was seen touching the mayor’s chest and stomach while they spoke. She was also seen looking at a book about Kenya and overheard saying to Villaraigosa, ‘We should buy it for our trip.’ "

The mayor’s spokesman, Matt Szabo, declined to comment "on the mayor's personal life."

Parker could not be reached for comment. She has told KTLA-TV officials that she and the mayor started dating in March, and that the limited number of interviews she had with Villaraigosa were in October and November.

“There is no concern as to the ethics whatsoever,’’ said Don Corsini, general manager of KTLA-TV, which like The Times is owned by Tribune Co. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s a personal matter.’’

Parker’s personal website contains a video clip of her interviewing Villaraigosa on election day in November. Its mere presence raises a question about whether she has been covering the mayor while also seeing him socially, a potential journalistic conflict of interest.

 Villaraigosa’s romantic affair with Telemundo KVEA-TV Channel 52 reporter and anchor Mirthala Salinas in 2007 also raised the conflict of interest question and created a firestorm of publicity that tainted his first term in office. During his successful campaign for reelection this year, Villaraigosa continually apologized for the affair.

 Salinas (left), who as a political reporter had covered such mayoral initiatives as his effort to gain control of the Los Angeles Unified School District, later quit after she was suspended for two months and reassigned by Telemundo to the station’s Riverside bureau.

Sue Otto, who owns the bookstore, said the two were looking over books displayed outside the store before walking in together.

“He’s been in before, but I didn’t recognize her,’’ Otto told The Times.

Authors Elizabeth Ford and Daniela Drake were signing copies of their newly released book, "Smart Girls Marry Money: How Women Have Been Duped Into the Romantic Dream — and How They’re Paying For I t," and invited the mayor and Parker over, Otto said.

“They gave her a copy,’’ Otto said.

-- Phil Willon

Photos: KTLA, Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Villarsucks]

What do you expect from an ex-gang banging, four time california Bar exam flunkie, adultering blithering idiot?? And this is newsy surprise?

[sabina]

Figures, someone else to take pictures of him. Hope he remembers to put those cops on the street (if the councilmen who he's fighting over the trash fees let him) and helps figure out how to keep our vital services coming without raising taxes again. Having said that happy people are better in all aspects of their lives: just wish he'd do something sincere this time and not just hook up with someone who can further his career like the last one.

[James Jackson]

Good heavens! Villaraigoso became mayor of Los Angeles, not Kokomo, Indiana. We live in 2009 and not 1959. All we want to know about the Mayor is whether he's doing his job, and he performs it pretty well. His personal life and reading habits seem pretty normal and titillate no one over 18. Give him some space.

[vic]

Salinas may have been around the CA political block, but she's a lot better looking than this new gal.

[pedro213]

Let Mayor Viagra LaRaza do whatever he wantz

[Marcos El Malo]

Clearly, the Mayor is gearing up for a run for Governor.

[Myron]

wow and you guys wonder why the newspaper biz is suffering. This is news??

[Leon T]

exactly why I know longer subscribe. Keep up the tabloid crap guys, see where it gets ya.

[Kate Barner]

Since he is either separated or divorced by now, this shouldn't even be a story. I'm not a big fan of the mayor, however in terms of a run for governor, if he wins, at least L.A. will have one of its own in Sacramento looking out for us, whereas Brown or Newsom will be more focused on San Francisco/Oakland.

[Decidedly Unimpressed]

@Kate Barnes: The only person Villaraigosa looks out for is himself, with a passing interest in those who financed his last campaign. He barely managed to con his way into a second term, despite a massive advantage in campaign financing.

Judging by the Salinas affair and now this little tryst, Tony's moral code is a study in situational ethics. Why should we consider promoting him to the esteemed (and powerful) office of Governor when his record in office is so poor?

If we - as voters - can limit the damage from Tony's blundering and confine the effects to this city, we should consider ourselves very lucky.

[JP]

What's the big deal? Plenty of politicians throughout history (and commonfolk) have had affairs (ahem Kennedy), but he's separated now so this is a non issue.

[garf]

ms parker should be put on hiatus, or fired for her tryst. this is not what a professional news org need as a side story....

i for one will stop watching ktla news until she is off....

[Lynn, Los Angeles, USA]

With allt he financial issues facing or city and state at this time shows how serious he is about our current situtaion. The mayor and governor are a joke and the laughis on us/at our expense.

[Sammy]

This is sad. I would hope that Parker remembers what happened to the Telemundo reporter. There is no good in this for her.

I guess it is true what they say about some chicks liking danger. Heck, OJ had no problems finding chicks before he went to prison.

[ED]

lmao, so you're comparing villaraigosa to OJ simpson now? he's the mayor of LA not a serial killer. talk about drama queens...

[Debbie]

Lu, Lu, Lu . . .what were you thinking? Didn't you see what happened to Mirthala Salinas? She lost her job, he dumped her, and he goes on practically unscathed. What a catch! I thought you were smarter than that . . .guess I was wrong.