Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Villaraigosa Tries Again to Shift Focus

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa poses with his wife Corina prior to an event in Hollywood, California, November 2005. Villaraigosa is in the full glare of the media feeding frenzy, as he confessed that he had been unfaithful to Corina, his wife of 20 years, who filed for divorce last month.

Rick Orlov over at the Los Angeles Daily News discusses the attempt of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to shift the focus away from the Mirthala Salinas, Universal City Development and Univision scandals and back to his accomplishments in office.

Swamped in controversy over his personal life, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has been frustrated in his attempts to shift attention back to his accomplishments during his first two years in office.

So, like any good salesman, he is sending his troops on the road to try to get the message out, as well as gather feedback on what community leaders would like to see.

Deputy Mayor Larry Frank, the affable liaison to neighborhood councils, has been meeting with various leaders in quasi-focus groups, accompanied by department heads from city agencies including Transportation, Environmental Affairs and Public Works.

The Mayor has an uphill fight.

Everyone is waiting for the NBC Telemundo decision on the fate of his girl friend, Mirthala Salinas.

And his soon to be ex-wife, Corina Villaraigosa, is doing events and seemingly enjoys putting the knife into his back and twisting.

In the meantime, rumors abound about former Mayor James Hahn looking at challenging Villaraigosa in two years. Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yarolslavsky is also looking at the race.

Stay tuned……..

villarjuly4aweb

City Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa is interviewed by reporter Mirthala Salinas of Telemundo at Factorâ€™s Famous Deli on May 19, 2005 in Los Angeles

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