Top Villaraigosa legal advisor leaves to head Latino civil rights organization

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s chief counsel, Thomas Saenz, has been tapped to become president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the organization announced today.

Saenz has been one of Villaraigosa’s closest advisors since taking the City Hall post in August 2005, recently serving as the mayor’s lead representative in negotiations with city labor unions over salary and benefit concessions to help close the city’s $530-million budget gap.

Saenz also was one of the main architects of Villaraigosa’s unsuccessful effort to gain control over the Los Angeles Unified School District, which was a top priority in the mayor’s first term before it was rejected by the courts.

"Tom Saenz has been a trusted advisor who understands the importance of public service and working on behalf of those in need," Villaraigosa said.

“We could not ask for a better civil rights leader than Thomas Saenz to take the helm of MALDEF at this critical time,” Patricia A. Madrid, chairman of the MALDEF Board of Directors, said in a statement. “The Latino community is currently facing a drastic rise in hate crimes, and witnessing an explosive rebirth of extremist anti-immigrant rhetoric and measures that adversely affect all Latinos. A highly respected attorney and community leader, Thomas brings a wealth of legal expertise and dedication to civil rights causes that fundamentally define the future of Latinos.”

Before coming to City Hall, Saenz served as MALDEF’s lead counsel for 12 years and successfully challenged Proposition 187, an initiative to prohibit illegal immigrants from having access to social service and healthcare benefits as well as public schools.

Saenz had been approached by the Obama administration earlier this year to oversee the Department of Justice’s civil rights division, but that idea was withdrawn to avoid a confirmation fight over immigration issues, according to some civil rights leaders.

Saenz is the fourth senior member of the Villaraigosa administration to depart in recent months.

Mercedes Marquez, general manager of the city’s Housing Department, was nominated by President Obama to become assistant secretary for community planning and development at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The deputy mayor who oversaw Villaraigosa’s environment agency, Nancy Sutley, left earlier this year to work as one of Obama’s main environmental advisors. And Arif Alikhan, the city’s deputy mayor for homeland security and public safety, left to join the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

-- Phil Willon at City Hall

Comments

[DRE DAWG]

ABANDON SHIP!!!!!!

[Brittanicus]

California taxpayers were downright cheated at their right in court. The liberal judges sold out the people, by stopping Proposition 187 from reaching the Supreme court. Today we have another massive financial fight on our hands, to terminate any AMNESTY. The Heritage Foundation analyzed the cost, which to most Americans is unimaginable. Where are our legislators expect to get $2.5 Trillion dollars. It can only come from much higher taxes, to support the impoverished from any country on Earth.

Senators and Representatives aides are unhappy with the constant bombardment from millions of Americans, but they are the bridge that must be crossed everyday? No respite, no retreat? Keep up the pressure, till their ears bleed? Keep up the invaluable rumblings in the beltway at 202-224-3121 THAT THE POPULATION IS MAD AND NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE! Learn who your enemy is and who your friends at NUMBERSUSA, JUDICIALWATCH, CAPSWEB, HERITAGE FOUNDATION & AMERICANPATROL

ATTENTION! Because of the massive payments to illegal immigrants in California, their is a petition. Google--TAXPAYER REVOLUTION. Very few newspapers will mention this activist petition. When is the American flag going to fly again in the once Golden state?

[Steve Meister]

Saenz served the City with competence, diligence, good faith and wisdom. Maybe he's leaving for lack of client-control.

[Robert in L.A.]

The Obama administration has tapped the L.A. City political scene for talent many times but has consistently rejected the head, Mayor Villaraigosa as lacking in what they needed. As we see even more clearly now,

Tony's lacking in many things that we need- honesty, leadership and commitment to the city among them. A good time for Saenz to exit while he is still intact; who knows what Tony's going to do next.

[svivar9087]

WE... HAVE SOMEONE THAT REPRESENTS US???....dang, well where in the heck are they??? "what have they done for us lately"

svivar9087

[svivar9087]

HELLO MALDELF......anyone home?

svivar9087