Not really a shock and Mayor Tony knows he cannot beat California Attorney General and former California Governor Jerry “Moonbeam” Brown in a contested Democrat Primary anyway.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced on national television today that he would not be running for California governor in 2010 after flirting with a bid for higher office for months.

“I can’t leave this city in the middle of a crisis,” Villaraigosa said. Noting that Los Angeles is grappling with a $530-million deficit, a 12.5% unemployment rate and more than 20,000 people who have lost their homes over the last two years, the mayor said: “I feel compelled to complete what I started out to do.”

Elected to a second, four-year term in March, the mayor broke the news to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on “The Situation Room,” saying he wanted to devote his full attention to Los Angeles.

The former state assembly speaker said he had been making up his mind “for a long time” and that the state’s challenges had made the decision an “agonizing” one.  Villaraigosa called the situation in Sacramento “an abomination,” but hinted at the political risks of announcing a statewide run so soon after being reelected to a second term. “I was elected mayor and reelected by the people of this city.They’ve given me the honor for a second term, and I feel compelled to complete the promise that I made to them. I’m going to dream, and I want the people to dream with me,” he said.

Villaraigosa’s decision adds a dash of clarity to the race for the 2010 Democratic gubernatorial nomination which, at the moment, appears will be between state Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Brown has yet to say if he will run, while Newsom already has announced his candidacy.

In a personal note, Villaraigosa said the demands of the campaign trail would have kept him apart from his 16-year-old daughter, whom he called the “apple of my eye.” “She’s got two more years of high school and then she’s gone, and I don’t want to be campaigning for a year, and then leading the state in Sacramento and my little precious is, you know, finishing up her high school education.”

Pundits will say Mayor Tony pulled out because of his self-inflicted summer of love affair with Mirthala Salinas or even his latest fling with television news anchor Lu Parker but it is really the candidacy of Jerry Brown that gives him pause.

Mayor Tony will now simply wait until after Brown loses to Meg Whitman or Steve Poizner and then run for Governor at a later time or for Dianne Feinstein’s United States Senate seat when she retires.

But, Villaraigosa will be judged on his second term as Mayor of Los Angeles and he had better do a better job.

And, KTLA television anchor/reporter Lu Parker, Telemundo television anchor Mirthala Salinas, and his ex-wife are NOT part of the rationale.

Remember how Rudy Giuliani’s family life, including affairs have sunk his political aspirations? It is a whispering campaign behind the candidate’s back – but is always there. If Mayor Tony ignores this reality and does not deal with it, then put a fork in him – He’s done.

Read the editorial here.

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Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa: Political Decisions – NOT About Lu Parker

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Technorati Tags: Lu Parker, Antonio Villaraigosa, Mirthala Salinas

So, does LU Parker agree – it is NOT about her?

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa says reports this week that he’s dating another TV reporter will not be a factor in whether he decides to run for California governor.

The Democratic mayor said Wednesday the public has scant interest in his personal life.

He says his decision on entering the 2010 contest will depend only on whether he can best serve Californians.

The mayor is reportedly dating Lu Parker, a former Miss USA who works at KTLA-TV. Villaraigosa’s wife, Corina, filed for divorce in 2007 during his affair with another local newscaster, Mirthala Salinas. The divorce is pending, and he later split with Salinas.

Villaraigosa declined to comment about Parker.

When asked whether he was in love, he said, “I love life.”

Knowing what a PIG Mayor Tony has been over the years, means it probably doesn’t matter. Lu is one of many and two years later note the Los Angeles Mayor is still not divorced.

Mayor Villaraigosa is going nowhere in the California Governor’s race anyway. If Mirthala Salinas wasn’t enough to sink him in his infamous summer of love in 2007, then the latest Los Angeles Magazine Cover calling him a failure will be sufficient.

On the other hand, the two other probable candidates for the Democrat Governor’s nomination, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and California Attorney General Jerry Brown have their own personal baggage, so you never know.

But, I am certain that Lu Parker won’t be around should Mayor Villar decide to take a 2010 political plunge.

Lu, have you scheduled that lunch with Mirthala yet?

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KTLA Reporter Lu Parker Dating Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa – Does It Matter?

KTLA Reporter Lu Parker Removed From Local Politics Beat – Dating Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

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Technorati Tags: Lu Parker, Antonio Villaraigosa, Mirthala Salinas

And, to whom?

After all, KTLA anchor/reporter has been removed from the local political beat which according to some journalists was not so much in any case.

Not that this is much of a demand, as it seems Ms. Parker — a former Miss South Carolina, a former Miss USA, a former model, actress, “avid golfer” and amateur skeet-shooter has petty much spent all of her adult life recusing herself from reporting seriously on anything. I base this harsh judgment on her official station bio and not from any personal knowledge.

Let’s get real folks. She’s a great-looking, emmy-winning  READER of news and I congratulate my friend the Mayor for his fine taste in fine-looking women. But what’s the big ethical issue here? I, for one, am absolutely confident that Ms. Parker has never done any real reporting on the Mayor and never will. She very well migh read or introduce the stories that others do on him, but that’s about it.

And, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was recently re-elected to another four year term, apparently will not run for California Governor next year and is getting divorced anyway.

Sounds like Mayor Villaraigosa is yesterday’s news.

The pattern is interesting. You know, the dark-haired, beauty queen, local news reporter, TV personality – just like the last one, Mirthala Salinas.

Maybe Steve Lopez is right.

This entire matter is MOST important to Ms. Parker.

Lu, have that lunch with Mirthala.

Previous:

KTLA Reporter Lu Parker Removed From Local Politics Beat – Dating Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

Another Television Reporter Girlfriend, Lu Parker, for Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa?

Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: The Mayor’s “OTHER WOMAN” Mirthala Salinas Moves On

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Remember the summer of love of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Telemundo Channel 52 anchor/reporter Mirthala Salinas a couple of years ago?

Well, it is Deja Vu all over again – now with Lu Parker and said Los Angeles Mayor Villar (except this time he is single).

Over the weekend, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was spotted perusing the merchandise in a Larchmont bookstore with a local television reporter who is also a former Miss USA. 

Earlier today, NBC Channel 4’s L.A. news website posted a story about the sighting, including a snapshot of the two together inside Chevalier’s bookstore with the mayor casually dressed, wearing shades and having a laugh. The woman, Lu Parker of KTLA Channel 5, is a general assignment news reporter and weekend anchor for the station.

And that made it newsworthy, given that the mayor’s prior relationship with a different TV reporter coincided with the widely publicized breakup of his marriage.

“Witnesses say they did not hold hands or kiss, but appeared very chummy,” the NBC Channel 4 story said. “Parker was seen touching the mayor’s chest and stomach while they spoke. She was also seen looking at a book about Kenya and overheard saying to Villaraigosa, ‘We should buy it for our trip.’ “

And, Parker has already told her bosses at KTLA that she and the Mayor are dating.

Flap wonders if the Mayor’s new squeeze is the reason he seems disinterested in the 2010 California Governor’s race and recently passed on the California Democratic Party Convention, where he was conspicuous by his absence.

Mayor Villar appears to be busy.

Watch Lu Parker interview the Mayor on election night in November here.

Good luck Tony, you will probably need it, knowing your track record.

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Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: The Mayor’s “OTHER WOMAN” Mirthala Salinas Moves On

Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Affair with Mirthala Salinas Is OVER

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