Cover Stories LAWT EXCLUSIVE: Former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Speaks ; Former Mayor Decided Against U.S. Senate Run to Focus on Family
By Danny J. Bakewell Jr., Executive Editor and by Kenneth D. Miller, Assistant Managing Editor
Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa broke his silence on his decision to run for the United States Senate in an exclusive interview with the Los Angeles Watts Times this week.
Villaraigosa served as the 41st mayor of Los Angeles from 2005 to 2013. He also served in the California State Assembly from 1994 to 2000, as the Democratic leader of the Assembly from 1996 to 1998, and also served as speaker of the California State Assembly from 1998 to 2000.
His career in public office spans more than 20 years and in 2005 he became the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles since 1887.
Villaraigosa is a prominent political figure who was national co-chairman of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2008 and a member of President Barack Obama’s Transition Economic Advisory Board and Chairman of the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
But what has set him apart from other elected officials is his unique ability to govern for all citizens, regardless of color. Which is why his decision not to run for Senate comes as a surprise to many.
“It was a family decision,” he explained of his decision. “We had just bought a home and I have four children, two grandchildren and a great grand child and we needed a place where the family could come together.”
Villaraigosa stated that his children had resided with him during his two terms as mayor and back then he promised them a family home.
“I had to keep that promise to them,” he said.
“When you have been in public service as long as I have and a good portion of that time in Sacramento and then working day and night on behalf of the city you love (Los Angeles), I just felt like the kids deserved it.”
However, his secondary purpose for not pursuing the U.S. Senate to replace Barbara Boxer was to support his long time friend State Attorney General Kamala Harris.
“Kamala and I have been long time friends, supporting one another throughout the years and the prospect of running against a friend was not something I relished, and finally, I knew how important it was to have an African American woman in the United States Senate,” he said.
He said that being the mayor of Los Angeles has prepared him to offer the most as a chief executive.
“I deferred this time around, but I’d be honored to serve again, but that’s some time in the future.
Although being mayor of the second largest city in America can be a daunting task for anyone, the former mayor has fond memories of his time in office.
“I loved it. I enjoyed every minute of my eight years. I was born here (in Los Angeles), my mom was born here, my grandmother came here over 100 years ago, and so this is my town.”
The former mayor indicated that his tenure as mayor was more burdensome on his family, which is why he decided to make the commitment this time around to put them before any of his political ambitions.
Villaraigosa’s experience as chief executive of Los Angeles will certainly give him advantage of any potential candidate as the next governor of the state of California.
“The theme back then was straight from the heart of L.A. I remember saying in 2005 that we were a great state, but a city that was much more prosperous in some parts, but a truly great city needed to be prosperous throughout and needed to grow together.
“When you look at my partnerships and where they’re at and when you look at Summer Night Lights (a successful gang intervention program), when you look at Watts and South Central L.A., I spent more time in those small communities (eight percent of the population) than I did in almost any other communities. I did because in South L.A., Pacoima, East L.A. these people worked hard every day and they deserved a leader that acknowledges them and who made sure that we were not leaving them behind.”
Among his many highlights in public office, include the moment he was asked by the late Hollywood NAACP president Willis Edwards to speak at Civil Rights icon Rosa Parks’ funeral and when he met the late South African President Nelson Mandela.
Since his tenure for mayor ended in 2013, Villaraigosa has kept busy, teaching at prestigious universities such as Harvard and the University of Southern California (USC) in addition be being a much sought after public speaker and serving on various board of major corporations.
However, for Villaraigosa as wonderful as it is to reflect on the pass with so much work to do there is a prominent role for him to serve in the near future.