I just got a call from a friend in Los Angeles. Apparently Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has announced that he is separating from his wife in a press release.
Villaraigosa’s marriage has been troubled for years so this does not come as a surprise, but they were married for twenty years, so it is sad.
According to the Times, he will “be temporarily moving out of Getty House, the mayor’s official residence in Windsor Square, next week.”
I think this will cause trouble for Villaraigosa’s bid for Governor, should he run in 2010. He and his wife have two kids, so you know there are going to be some family issues to contend with.
Also, assuming the separation leads to divorce, there is a chance that Villaraigosa will tarnish himself in the way that San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom did.
Maybe this opens up an opportunity for Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez to run for Governor instead?
Wow, Art. This is really a scoop. It’s amazing how you report what has already been reported and then repackage it to somehow give the impression that you are connected.
Remember back in February when Mayor Villaraigosa summoned the Times to Getty House to deny blogger Luke Ford’s report that his marriage was kaput? Curiously, Corina was not part of the, uh, staging that night. Well, today the mayor announced that the couple is separating. The Times reports that Corina and the two children will remain at Getty House for now and that Antonio will move back to the Mount Washington home; the Daily News says Villaraigosa will talk about it at a press conference on Monday. Here’s the release:
VILLARAIGOSA ANNOUNCES SEPARATION
LOS ANGELES – Today Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced that he and First Lady Corina Villaraigosa are separating after more than twenty years of marriage.
“Each of us loves our children more than anything in the world, and we are committed to working together for their benefit,* Mayor Villaraigosa said.
“I ask that the media and the public respect our privacy through this painful period of transition.”
The New Yorker profile of Villaraigosa by Connie Bruck last month revived chatter about the mayor’s previous separation, following an extra-marital affair during his first campaign for Assembly. Coverage of today’s news at the Times, Daily News, DN opinion blog, Luke Ford
Poster 1,
I don’t care what people think of me. My blog gets hundreds of hits every day, so whether folks like me or not they are reading what I have to say.
BTW, I did not blog this story to make it look like a scoop – did you not notice that I linked to a Times article?
This is a story worth noting – and it might well have a local impact on Congresswoman Sanchez and her future aspirations.
Maybe Antonio’s wife should be talked into running for Mayor – revenge!
I’m waiting to here from those posters who were lamenting that the Santa Ana Mayor is not like the LA Mayor – anyone?
I’m sure this is one time Mayor No Berries wants to be compared to Antonio. At least there aren’t any rumors about Antonio playing “Pitcher & Catcher” with his favorite midget politican.