Mayor Rules Out '06 Gubernatorial Bid
From the LA Times:SACRAMENTO — Antonio Villaraigosa arrived in his old Capitol stamping grounds this week as California Democrats' best asset — a handsome, popular mayor blessed with rapidly burgeoning national name recognition.For the rest of the story, click here.
Amid the adulation on the mayor's two-day victory tour here, some Democrats were a little wistful for a candidacy that probably will not be — at least not anytime soon.
Democratic activists are looking for someone to knock off Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger next year. The maverick Republican once seemed invincible but is now suffering a spate of low poll numbers. On Tuesday, Villaraigosa insisted that it won't be him.
"I'm like a kid in a candy store right now — I love being mayor of the city that I was born in, raised in, that my grandpa came to 100 years ago," Villaraigosa said. "I'm going to be mayor of the city of Los Angeles for the next four years."
That announcement was unsurprising to Democratic insiders. They understand that Villaraigosa, who didn't complete his term as a city councilman, needs to fulfill his commitment in Los Angeles. But some also feel that the current candidates — Steve Westly, the state controller, and Phil Angelides, the state treasurer — lack the mayor's A-list charisma.
To them, Villaraigosa seems like a wasted chance.
Posted by Anonymous @ 8/31/2005 06:38:00 AM
68 Comments:
I WILL NOT RUN FOR MAYOR; I WILL SERVE OUT MY FULL TERM AS COUNCILMEMBER!
(CM candiddate Villar, 2002)
Sound familiar....
CIRCUMSTANCES FORCED ME TO CHANGE MY MIND ABOUT THAT AND RUN FOR MAYOR.
(Mayoral candidate Villar, 2004)
Hmmmm, why am I having trouble believing this guy! Are there no "circumstances" now? An increasingly unpopular (sitting duck) incumbent in office!
Promises, promises. . . fool me once, shame on you. Fool me 80 times, run for governor.
AV wants to wait for an open field. He can wait a couple extra years to bump off a lame duck Arnold. BUT if any of the Dem contenders look like that may actually be able to knock off Arnold (see Hertzberg v. Hahn, early in the last race), he'll find new "circumstances" and a group of six "progressives" to prop URGE HIM TO RUN!
Fred would endorse him.
A lot of people will endorse Antonio. If he's the best man for the job why shouldn't he run?
Sizable press coverage on AV in Sacramento. Who's the fatguy in the background? Nevermind mind.. that's just Alex tagging along. AP moonlights as a field deputy for AV.
I hope he didn't attend Sacramento solely for his fundraiser this morning, at taxpayer expense
Run Antonio Run !!!
Fabian for Mayor .....
Cedillo for Governor.....
Sure you will Antonio. You gotta love Conan Nolan tv reporter. Yesterday a clip showed of Antonio stating "I am staying as Mayor of my city." Then Conan states that's what Antonio Villaraigosa said when he was councilmember and then went off to run for Mayor.
If Antonio did run he'd have a problem with the illegal immigration issue. They will nail him. Seems this nation is all up in arms wanting to control them nationwide.
IF HE'S TH BEST MAN FOR THE JOB?
How will anybody ever know he's right for ANY job. He never STAYS anywhere long enough to DO the job!
Damn you people are gullible.
"Run" is all AV ever does.
Run and hide, Antonio. Responsibilities are waiting.
progressives? progress to what? lies and more lies. Another salery will be stolen.
Parke needs a new rec room?
Whats so bad about Westly as Governor? He's a former business professor at Stanford, so he actually gets economics (something that CA needs) and he's a likable and charismatic politician who is easy on the eyes.
How about we find someone who's easy on the pocketbook, for a nice change?
9:$1
You do know that Westly has found ways to increase CA revenues without raising taxes or cutting corners right? Or are you just blowing smoke out of your ass because you don't know much about what the Controller has done?
9:55
Does it matter? The state is still taking too big a chunk of everything that actually PRODUCES revenue in California, because the top elected officials are all owned by the party of the free-for-all giveaway. More revenue to them = more to spend (never to save or return to the taxpayer).
Any new revenue gets spent before anyone up there even considers cutting taxes. More revenue = more largess for them, means nothing to me!
If you think I should be tickled pink that they're just not RAISING taxes as much, think again. Your premise belies your political philoshophy... it's THEIR money, they just let us use it until they're ready to collect.
Blow that out... something!
Antonioooooooooo, please come back to Sacto, the nights are SO cold without you!
Antoniooooooo!
This blog is no fun without Chief Parker - where is she? When is she coming back?
Parker is following AV around the state pretending to be part of the "cool kids."
10:30
Your ignorance is astounding. You think that since more money is collected from deadbeat dads and deadbeat companies who didn't pay the state what they are owed...that it doesn't affect you?
If the state collects an additional $500 million and puts it into schools, transportation, cops and other state agencies, that it will not have any affect on you? The more money the state has to put towards California, the better off California is. ESPECIALLY if it doesn't cost you a dime.
But thats just my opinion, and you are definetely wrong.
Is Antonio still mayor. What's taking him so long this time?
He's named 80 NEW COMMISSIONERS. That should be enough to get the new job.
Yes, that's just your opinion!
The pig continues to grow, the wards of the state keep finding new teats to suck on.
You, my friend, are a socialist. You can't possibly understand why this is a problem. Don't bother trying.
10:34
How touching, the Antonio-lovers miss their mascot. What is Parker the only one that can spin a good lie for the homie-team?
7:33 He took an oath, does this not mean anything anymore?
So does Nick Pacheco wrap the puppies in duct tape before he fucks them, or does he just like watching them explode?
OATH, schmoath. "Circumstances dictate," situational ethics, "ends justify the means."
OH, and don't forget the pablum you'll hear from the supporters when he does make the jump.
1) All candidates lie, at least HE'S doing it to help US!
2) He can help Los Angeles (CD14) SO much more from Sacramento (L.A. City Hall), once he's Governor (Mayor), than he can now.
3) We want a candidate who can "mature" and "evolve" enough to know when it's time to break promises (er, um, we mean "learn new things.")
4) If not Tony, then we're LOST. There's no one else can SAVE the state (like he's saving the city, like he saved the district, blah, blah). Scripts are already written.
So does Robin Kramer get to be L.A. City's caretaker until the citywide special election later next year, or is there a power struggle for that choice task?
Just wondering!
OH man, I can hear his handlers standing on the sidelines now "dodge the question, Antonio, dodge it, OOOOOOH, damn!"
But does the "kid in the candy store" have his "sleeves rolled up yet."
Winners and losers for the week.
Winners
Steve Afriat- Turning the Pacheco campaign around.
Nick Pahceco- Putting an effective campaign team together.
Chief Bratton- Keeping his diginity under pressure.
Losers
Parke Skelton- Lies about Pacheco not working this time.
AV- His Cops beating up ministers.
Eric Hacopian- Finnanical ties to Meruelo exposed.
Jose Huizar- Campaign falling apart.
Very kind of you to leave the "scud" man off the losers list. . .
Oh, I think Huizar might be considered a winner for pulling down a unanimous County Federation of Labor endorsement on Tuesday. No one spoke up for Pacheco. No one.
Is the County Fed going all out for Huizar -- you bet.
Is this a county race, or even a city race?
No... it's a CD14 race. Enough with the outside influence! Theh what does a CITY councilmember "Huizar" owe COUNTY for the goodwill? Nothing that will HELP CD14 people specifically.
Did Pacheco make ANY friends while on the City Council?
How could he lose the County endorsement without a SINGLE VOTE?
And, they maintain that he is the "Front runner"?
Where can I get some of the stuff the Pacheco boys are smokin'?
We smokin' GRASS ROOTS, baby, and you CAN'T get it on the sidelines, through COUNTY apparatchiks, or packed in CARPET BAGS!
In fact, YOU can't get it at all!
(Nick's got friends on city council, they just don't want to make ENEMIES with the new dictator -- I mean "mayor." They know Pacheco will be a lot more forgiving and still work with them once on council, but if they cross the hyper-vindictive ADV, the guy who ran his last two races JUST to settle old bad blood, they'll have tough sledding, regardless).
Does Nick Pacheco have a website?
Does Antonio Villaraigosa have a conscience?
I guess the Pacheco guys have too much time on their hands again.
losers for the week?
Losers
Parke Skelton- What lies are you talking about?
AV- He is the loser when the LAT is talking about him running for Governor?
Eric Hacopian- What evidence do you have of a "Meruelo" connection?
Jose Huizar- County Fed Endorsement. Any questions?
Does Nick Pacheco have campaign?
Can the Pachuecos like 2:38 really believe what they write:
"...the hyper-vindictive ADV, the guy who ran his last two races JUST to settle old bad blood..." ???
Two races that AV just happened accidentally to win by landslides? And Pachueco's last race? That was for real?
I don't think I want what they're smokin'
4:09
Point taken about AV and who's the loser!
Should say:
LOS ANGELES, stuck with a mayor (and previously a councilmember) who still doesn't know what he wants to be when he grows up, just that it's NOT whatever job he just won.
NEW nickname - Ants-in-his-pants Villaraigosa!
4:41 p.m. - I like how you ridicule the statement, but don't actually REFUTE it with anything of substance.
PE: If Parke Skelton was doing this for money he would be cashing in on his relationships with the Mayor and other elected officials to lobby, like, uh, Steve Afriat. That's where the money is, not in campaigns.
No shit, Skelton, especially in L.A., now that every race, no matter what position is about "improving education." You would think every elected official in the city was running for school board.
Campaings are the main money makers for Parke Skelton, even bogus campaigns. How much money did ther County Fed give Parke to fight secession - after Speaker Antonio saved the secession movemented with State money, secession was already dead but Parke needed the money and needed to keep Antonio in the media, fighting secession.
Parke is cashing in on his relationships. How much money do you think Ludlow is going to move to him. He owns a once public street, isn't that cashing in?
I second 5:41 p.m.'s comment.
The rates a well-connected consultant can charge are pretty ridiculous. The real money is in "consulting" with your old employees and coworkers on some private company's dime.
Look at what all the termed out Assembly and Senate power brokers have done: run for office or start "consulting". Lining up a good job after your term ends is getting too hard for anyone to do - so it's either back into the fray, or cash in on your expertise.
Ooooh, the County Fed is coming out in force for Huizar. They came out in force for Griego - all the way down to the limo and red carpet at his "victory party." This was Miguel's first defeat after a string of victories. Too bad Ludlow won't have a chance to get a string of victories before his first loss. Griego and Huizar aren't Tony, CD 14 is ready for another community victory, just like in '99.
How much money did Skelton get trying to get the poor people in Cypress Park to pay a special school tax that would ONLY benefit the school in the much richer community Villaraigosa lives in -- a school that THEY coudn't even attend.
Now THAT was shitty!
TOO BAD Antonio don't want no LOBBYISTS around. . . better stick to Slime Campaigns, skelton.
Ubray02
Once you learn the game, like Parke, every campaign is a money maker. Watch Huizar, Montanez, Ridley-Thomas, etc.,. all have the same brochures, just with different faces. Of course, Parke is still going to charge everyone of these "clients" original fees.
Parke is the Ray Kroc of political campaigning - for a nominal fee, you can have your franchise too.
Have any of you MET the (real) Parke. Lobbyists and consultants are slick, glad-handing salesmen. Please... he needs an open sewer and a shovel, and a place to work in his house-slippers sliming people through the back door of local media.
Not ONE DIME as a fundraiser or up-front consultant, guaranteed.
Yeah I met Parke back in '96. Has he showered yet?
Wasn't Parke Steisand's love interest in Yentl?
What does Parke Skelton look like, I'm told he is the split'n image of Sean Connery, is this true?
Must be all that lying and cheating that gets Parke the rep as one of the most honest consultants in the business.
Who wants to lay bets Pacheco gets whacked in the primary AGAIN? If this is the only shit you people can come up with then phoning and walking CAN'T be going well.
If Skelton is such a lousy consultant, why are you folks so obviously petrified of him.
I don't think anyone is petrified, this is your perception. People are cautious to any fabrications, learned from past mistakes of believing stories that were fed to media from Parke...big mistake...learned the first time.
6:01 pm Anon
Victor Griego was a fuck-up candidate.
Jose Huizar is not Victor.
You can define Huizar as a carpet bagger and slumlord.
I understand the slumlords are represented by Mr. Pacheceo
When did Alvin's time come? He's always been a "never was" - couldn't even get elected head of his own neighborhood council without creating a huge rift in the community that split it in two.
Never was/never will be.
I keep hearing comments about Huizar's staff, are they that awful? Politics is no picnic area, so maybe you are exaggerating the conditions of his staff?
AV better make sure the right people are on his and Huizar's side. People reached out to help and they stepped all over them, now it is time they mend fences in order to win this election. If not, Huizar will lose.
Who is actually helping Huizar? Who is his staff? Pacheco people have been unsuccessfully trying to get an education activist from CD 14. This person has been approached by both campaigns, smart advocate and activist, but still has not agreed to either candidate. Did huizar get the help from CD14 or Pacheco?
This topic changed quickly. Will he run for Governor? You can bet that if he does he may not get the support he's gotten in the past. The people aren't dumb and you can bet that the media will run with this story if he fails to complete a term with accomplishments. You can spin, twist, change topic all you want, but know that the employees of the City are very powerful in their own right and can spread information to family and friends that will not benefit the Mayor if he decides to campaign for Governor. Employees may not talk about things out in the open but you can believe they are talking and there is concern.
The mayor will wait for Arnold to finish his second and then run. No way Angelides or Westly beats the Governor.
The question is: Will the mayor try to impose his boy on the city when he leaves - as he is doing with Huizar in CD14?
Hopefully there will be somebody strong enough not to let that happen - as is the case with Pacheco in CD14!
I've met Parke Skelton. He doesn't resemble Sean Connery as much as he does, Rupert from Survivor.
I don't think AV will leave to run for anything for 4 years. If he doesn't finish this term... he'll lose his fan base. And no matter how much name recognition he has, the sheep can easily be convinced that he'll leave the state high and dry when he runs for President.
His time will come. He needs to learn some patience.
I'll take Westly, Angelides.. anybody but Arnold.
Hell, I'd almost take Hal Netkin over Arnold. Okay that was a major exaggeration, but I really don't like Arnold.
I'll take anybody that is dedicated to helping our State. I don't think it's unrealistic to think someone out there can and will dedicate their self to saving our state and being fair. I still believe that there are good, positive and ethical politicians out there. We first need to fix Los Angeles. If our Mayor isn't up to that task and becomes flighty then he'll continue to do that in every position he holds.
Mayor Villaraigosa - do the job you were elected to do. Serve our City, ease traffic, hire more officers, plant a million trees, pave more roads and fix the sidewalks, help to combat the gang violence, assist LAUSD and help our future generation get diplomas through high scholastics, lead our kids toward college,......
Sounds like you have your hands full and I know you can do it.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home