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Editorial
Mayor Should Be Honest About Political Future
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa owes Los Angeles the truth about his political future, and now is the time for him to tell it.
Specifically, it is now time for the mayor to reveal to the voters of the city whether or not he plans to run for governor of California in 2010, when Arnold Schwarzenegger is termed out. Villaraigosa has already stated that he intends to run for a second term as mayor, with the primary election taking place next March. Beyond that he has refused to say.
Certainly he has been asked many times. He regularly deflects the query with comments along the lines of how focused he is on being mayor of Los Angeles, or he states how much he loves the job he has now. He should love it - it is a great job, albeit an immensely challenging one.
With the primary in nine months, the voters deserve to know whether the man they might re-elect intends to stick around until 2013, when he would be termed out of office. The mayor should have enough respect for the citizens to tell them what he plans to do.
To be clear, calling for the truth is not an implication or an accusation that a lie is occurring or has been told. Rather, it is a request that Villaraigosa make an honest, public statement that directly answers the question so many want to know now, and so many more will need to know if they hope to make an informed decision when they go to the ballot box to choose a mayor in 2009.
It is no secret that Villaraigosa has grand, even national, ambitions. A former speaker of the state Assembly, and someone comfortable in the halls of power, he has been seen as a potential candidate for governor almost since the day he was elected mayor. His acts in recent years, such as his tepid campaigning on behalf of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides in 2006, indicate how well he grasps his own political landscape (an Angelides victory and a second term would have kept Villaraigosa out of the governor's mansion at least until 2014). It has long been clear that his best, most direct shot to win the office is after Schwarzenegger is termed out.
There is a reason that Villaraigosa should speak out now, though it is the same reason why he almost certainly will remain quiet: The coming months are important. It is the time when a viable mayoral candidate would likely announce his or her intention to run. It takes time to set up an election team, secure endorsements and, crucially, raise the millions of dollars that will be necessary to win the 2009 Los Angeles election.
Villaraigosa's current efforts to position himself for certain victory next spring have been frequent and effective. He recently attended nearly two dozen fundraisers for his mayoral re-election - even traveling to events in Florida, New York and Chicago - with the intent of raising enough money to scare away other major candidates. In plain terms, he hopes to win the race long before the vote by keeping all viable contenders out and rendering election day little more than a formality. It is a time-tested strategy and, in purely political terms, a darn effective one. As it stands today, only a passionate and dedicated contender with very deep pockets would stand a chance against him.
We would like to see a popular, ambitious politician do something refreshingly unconventional. We would like to see Villaraigosa put the well-being of the city ahead of his political future. Los Angeles is facing many serious problems - among them issues with schools, transportation, policing and the $406 million budget deficit - and we cannot afford a mayor distracted by the lure of a higher office.
Frankly, it is almost certain that he will run for governor. For Villaraigosa it would be the classic "free run," meaning if he loses, whether in the June 2010 Democratic primary or the November general election, he would have a job to go back to if he has been re-elected for a second mayoral term. In a certain sense he would be foolish not to take a shot, though it will be a highly competitive field with Jerry Brown, John Garamendi and Gavin Newsom already scurrying around looking for donors and, ultimately, Democratic votes. If he loses, he still has gained statewide experience and exposure to run again in the future. Not at all out of the question for this relatively young man.
A second-term Mayor Villaraigosa would be sworn in on July 1, 2009, less than a year before the gubernatorial primary. He would have to begin to ramp up for the second campaign within weeks of taking his oath of office. The city would lose his focus immediately. If that is the situation he envisions, then the public, which put its trust in him when it elected him in 2005, deserves to know his plan.
That is why, whatever his intent for the future, Villaraigosa should announce it now, not in early September, after the summer lull, and not in the middle of November, in the politics-overload blur following the presidential election. The critical time for potentially giving Angelenos a choice is now, when other contenders could begin to put campaigns together.
Perhaps Villaraigosa could tell the truth and pull off a double feat. He is charismatic and telegenic, and might be able to state his ambitions honestly, then win a second term as mayor based on his record and the public's desire to continue whatever programs he has in place. Indeed, so far no major threat has publicly declared an intent to run, despite the widespread gubernatorial speculation. It could remain that way.
We understand that it may not be easy or politically prudent for Villaraigosa to say now what he intends to do in 2010. But this should not be about what is easy or politically prudent for him, but rather what is best for the future of Los Angeles.
page 4, 7/14/2008
© Los Angeles Downtown News. Reprinting items retrieved from the archives are for personal use only. They may not be reproduced or retransmitted without permission of the Los Angeles Downtown News. If you would like to re-distribute anything from the Los Angeles Downtown News Archives, please call our permissions department at (213) 481-1448.
Specifically, it is now time for the mayor to reveal to the voters of the city whether or not he plans to run for governor of California in 2010, when Arnold Schwarzenegger is termed out. Villaraigosa has already stated that he intends to run for a second term as mayor, with the primary election taking place next March. Beyond that he has refused to say.
Certainly he has been asked many times. He regularly deflects the query with comments along the lines of how focused he is on being mayor of Los Angeles, or he states how much he loves the job he has now. He should love it - it is a great job, albeit an immensely challenging one.
With the primary in nine months, the voters deserve to know whether the man they might re-elect intends to stick around until 2013, when he would be termed out of office. The mayor should have enough respect for the citizens to tell them what he plans to do.
To be clear, calling for the truth is not an implication or an accusation that a lie is occurring or has been told. Rather, it is a request that Villaraigosa make an honest, public statement that directly answers the question so many want to know now, and so many more will need to know if they hope to make an informed decision when they go to the ballot box to choose a mayor in 2009.
It is no secret that Villaraigosa has grand, even national, ambitions. A former speaker of the state Assembly, and someone comfortable in the halls of power, he has been seen as a potential candidate for governor almost since the day he was elected mayor. His acts in recent years, such as his tepid campaigning on behalf of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides in 2006, indicate how well he grasps his own political landscape (an Angelides victory and a second term would have kept Villaraigosa out of the governor's mansion at least until 2014). It has long been clear that his best, most direct shot to win the office is after Schwarzenegger is termed out.
There is a reason that Villaraigosa should speak out now, though it is the same reason why he almost certainly will remain quiet: The coming months are important. It is the time when a viable mayoral candidate would likely announce his or her intention to run. It takes time to set up an election team, secure endorsements and, crucially, raise the millions of dollars that will be necessary to win the 2009 Los Angeles election.
Villaraigosa's current efforts to position himself for certain victory next spring have been frequent and effective. He recently attended nearly two dozen fundraisers for his mayoral re-election - even traveling to events in Florida, New York and Chicago - with the intent of raising enough money to scare away other major candidates. In plain terms, he hopes to win the race long before the vote by keeping all viable contenders out and rendering election day little more than a formality. It is a time-tested strategy and, in purely political terms, a darn effective one. As it stands today, only a passionate and dedicated contender with very deep pockets would stand a chance against him.
We would like to see a popular, ambitious politician do something refreshingly unconventional. We would like to see Villaraigosa put the well-being of the city ahead of his political future. Los Angeles is facing many serious problems - among them issues with schools, transportation, policing and the $406 million budget deficit - and we cannot afford a mayor distracted by the lure of a higher office.
Frankly, it is almost certain that he will run for governor. For Villaraigosa it would be the classic "free run," meaning if he loses, whether in the June 2010 Democratic primary or the November general election, he would have a job to go back to if he has been re-elected for a second mayoral term. In a certain sense he would be foolish not to take a shot, though it will be a highly competitive field with Jerry Brown, John Garamendi and Gavin Newsom already scurrying around looking for donors and, ultimately, Democratic votes. If he loses, he still has gained statewide experience and exposure to run again in the future. Not at all out of the question for this relatively young man.
A second-term Mayor Villaraigosa would be sworn in on July 1, 2009, less than a year before the gubernatorial primary. He would have to begin to ramp up for the second campaign within weeks of taking his oath of office. The city would lose his focus immediately. If that is the situation he envisions, then the public, which put its trust in him when it elected him in 2005, deserves to know his plan.
That is why, whatever his intent for the future, Villaraigosa should announce it now, not in early September, after the summer lull, and not in the middle of November, in the politics-overload blur following the presidential election. The critical time for potentially giving Angelenos a choice is now, when other contenders could begin to put campaigns together.
Perhaps Villaraigosa could tell the truth and pull off a double feat. He is charismatic and telegenic, and might be able to state his ambitions honestly, then win a second term as mayor based on his record and the public's desire to continue whatever programs he has in place. Indeed, so far no major threat has publicly declared an intent to run, despite the widespread gubernatorial speculation. It could remain that way.
We understand that it may not be easy or politically prudent for Villaraigosa to say now what he intends to do in 2010. But this should not be about what is easy or politically prudent for him, but rather what is best for the future of Los Angeles.
page 4, 7/14/2008
© Los Angeles Downtown News. Reprinting items retrieved from the archives are for personal use only. They may not be reproduced or retransmitted without permission of the Los Angeles Downtown News. If you would like to re-distribute anything from the Los Angeles Downtown News Archives, please call our permissions department at (213) 481-1448.
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