Villaraigosa staying put?

The Sac Bee announced that Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa may not be up for the Governor’s race:


Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa may be unwilling to totally kill off speculation he is going to run for governor. But a vote by the United States Conference of Mayors today suggests that he has other plans.

In the mayors' national convention in Providence, Villaraigosa was elected as the organization's second vice-president for 2009-2010. Under the guidelines of the Conference, he would then become first vice-president in 2010-2011 and president of the organization in 2011-2012.

"Everybody understands that once you get elected, you automatically move up," said Elena Temple, communications director for the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

And

There may still be time for Villaraigosa to bolt the gig. But some political consultants privately suggest that Villaraigosa has already waited too long to raise enough money to kick off a gubernatorial run. His election by Conference of Mayors will only increase talk that he is not interested in moving up in California.


The biggest hurdle for Villaraigosa has been if he can emerge from Los Angeles relatively unscathed or at least with an issue or two he could claim as his own to increase his name identity out side of southern California.

However, Villaraigosa has always been a labor man and labor is currently engaged in trench warfare within Sacramento. The capital has become a poster child for adult dysfunction and Los Angles is not far behind. Vested interests are vesting for themselves and this does not bode well for any real compromise, let alone progress..

Villaraigosa may be looking at Sacramento but not with the eagerness he once did. By remaining in Los Angeles, he can work on the basic issues of economics, quality of life, and the environment in a dynamic city that does reward success.

Which is more than can be said about Sacramento.