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Villaraigosa bows out of governor's race
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa speaks at the Award Of Excellence Star presentation for the Screen Actors Guild at The Annex at Hollywood and Highland October 25, 2007 in Hollywood, California.
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Villaraigosa bows out of governor's race
Villaraigosa bows out of governor's race
Saying he has work to do in Los Angeles, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Monday bowed out of next year’s race for governor. He did so during an appearance on CNN, as KPCC’s Frank Stoltze reports.
Frank Stoltze: Villaraigosa said he wants to stay in L.A. in part to address the city’s record $530 million budget deficit.
Antonio Villaraigosa: I can't leave this city in the middle of a crisis.
Stoltze: The mayor, reelected in March, said he also wants to continue trying to reform the schools, fix traffic, and create green jobs. He said he wants to spend time with his daughter, too.
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Villaraigosa: She's the apple of my eye, and she's got two more years of high school and then she's gone.
Stoltze: A number of civic leaders had urged Villaraigosa to set aside his political ambitions and finish his work in L.A. A Los Angeles Times poll found a plurality of city residents agreed – even though only about half like his job performance.
The poll also found Villaraigosa would have faced a tough race against state Attorney General Jerry Brown for the Democratic nomination for governor. Brown now faces only San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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