Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Still A Contender for California Governor in 2008?
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa tells reporters, “I have a relationship with Ms. (Mirthala) Salinas, and I take full responsibility for my actions.†Salinas is an evening anchor for Telemundo, Channel 52.
Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa has an affair with a Telemundo, Channel 52 political reporter who has also had personal relationships with other California politicians (Fabien Nunez and Alex Padilla) she has covered on her political beat. They Mayor’s wife Corrina has filed for divorce and Mayor Villaraigosa is attempting to quell the political scandal.
This Sacramento Bee piece says “NO HARM NO FOUL”: Despite affair, Villaraigosa still seen as 2010 contender
Don’t dismiss Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa from the 2010 governor’s race just because he revealed Tuesday he had an ongoing extramarital relationship, political analysts say.
Many believe Villaraigosa’s revelation will have only a marginal impact on the Democrat’s chances to win the state’s top office in three years. The former Assembly speaker is still considered among the early front-runners in a large field once Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is termed out.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s admission that he has a relationship with TV anchor Mirthala Salinas comes less than a month after he announced his separation from his wife of two decades, Corina Villaraigosa. She filed for divorce the next day.
Villaraigosa said Tuesday he has had a relationship with reporter Mirthala Salinas of the Spanish language network Telemundo that has evolved over time, according to a recording posted online by the Los Angeles Times.
Salinas once covered the mayor as a political reporter. About a year ago, Villaraigosa said, the relationship “had grown to a point where it was necessary to inform her management that she shouldn’t cover me. … They agreed,” the Associated Press reported.
The acknowledgment of the relationship came after the mayor separated last month from his wife, Corina, who has since filed for divorce. At the time, Villaraigosa took responsibility for the breakup but refused to answer questions about what he had done to cause it. He acknowledged the relationship Tuesday after the Los Angeles Daily News confirmed his involvement with Salinas through his 88-year-old mother-in-law.
Let’s look at the quotes of the political analysts:
Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a University of Southern California political science professor:
“If it looks like Antonio Villaraigosa has the best chance of taking back the Governor’s Office, California Democrats will be very forgiving. It’s as simple as that.”
The Democrats will NOT be forging with the former California Controller Steve Westly, Attorney General and Former Governor Jerry Brown, Lt. Governor John Garamendi and former State Senator Jackie Speier in the field. There is even talk that former California Treasurer Phil Angelides, defeated by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006 may run.
The Democrats will need a strong candidate to beat either California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner or Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in 2010. Mayor Villaraigosa with these revelations will not be THAT candidate.
Garry South, who ran Democratic gubernatorial campaigns for Davis and former state Controller Steve Westly:
“I don’t think the revelations are helpful, and I think anyone would be a fool to think they would not have an impact when you have to run a high-visibility, high-scrutiny race for governor,” South said. “What kind of person you’ve been will play a factor.”
Agreed. Flap continues to maintain that politically Mayor Villar is DONE – Put a Fork in him.
If the Democrats do not have him for lunch, certainly the GOP will have him for dinner.
Update:
But, although Rudy leads in the polls has he been elected yet? And Antonio is NO Rudy or Reagan!
He is more like Henry Cisneros.
Mirthala Salinas, a Telemundo newswoman, interviews L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at the state Capitol on June 21, 2006. Villaraigosa has now acknowledged that he has “a relationship†with Salinas.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: The End of a Political Career
Technorati Tags: Antonio Villaraigosa, Mirthala Salinas, Telemundo, Steve Westly, Phil Angelides, Jackie Speier, John Garamendi, Steve Poizner, Condoleezza RiceJerry Brown
18 Comments
Rachel
Antonio Villaraigosa you’ve let your race down! For a Latino to make history and then to throw caution vicariously to the wind by having another affair will hurt all Hispanics! Shame on YOU! I feel sorry for your wife Corina who stood by you all of this time. If all else, you should have been man enough to divorce then start your shananigan with Ms. Salinas! Now, your ego may cost you your future and hers!
Flap
Rachel, I understand that Telemundo is not too happy with these events.
Veronica
I’m deeply saddened by this whole situation! I hope that for one, Mr. Villaraigosa will amend his fault and end this affair. I’ve followed his carrer and admire his energy and conviction as he’s been a very good mayor. On the other hand The reality of it all is that this is just not another affair from a public official. Mr. Villaraigosa is the first Latino mayor in decades…much responsibility is on his shoulders as a role model for other Latinos. With this affair he has fulfilled a very negative stereotypical view of what Latinos are like. I admire that he came out and admitted his faults but I’m having trouble overseeing this issue separately from his role as a good role model and leader. He has let us down!
Renee
Rachael,there is no such thing as a “Latino” race. And Villaraigosa has been a terrible mayor. What’s better now than before he came into office? I voted for him last time, but will never make that mistake again.
Lily Harville
Apparently this Ms. Salinas is taking the coverage of politicians a little too far. It seems as if she sleeps with everyone she covers and this mayor was a fool for falling for a new face and, I might add, not a prettier face than his wife’s. He is as foolish as the countless of men before him who have lost careers, families and friends because of their lack of self-control. He should resign and go off into the sunset with his adulterous partner. He should have divorced his wife and then picked up with the bimbo, Salinas.
ADRIANA
I AGREE WITH LILY HARVILLE
Anon
Affair? Relationship? Romance? Ha Ha Ha! Both Villar and Salinas are nothing more than a pair of self-serving whores! Still has a viable political career, huh? Sounds like someone has been listening to lying leftist propaganda merchants with an agenda to serve like Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, local news stations, newspapers!
Pingback:
Pingback:
Robert
Love Birds ride off into the sunset? I don’t think so, Salinas got what she wanted, another noch in her garter belt. She will move on to another rising star, this one is spent.
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback: