Governor Plans to Endorse Villaraigosa in Mayor’s Race

California Gov. Gray Davis plans to announce his support of Antonio Villaraigosa for mayor of Los Angeles today, delivering a powerful endorsement that has significant implications for the candidate and the governor.

The support of Davis, a popular moderate, adds considerable heft and ideological range to the long string of endorsements Villaraigosa already has obtained from Democratic Party officeholders and interest groups. The endorsement is particularly notable because it is unusual for a governor to intervene in a local race, particularly when several members of his party are campaigning. Davis, according to a source close to the governor, chose to back Villaraigosa because he is impressed with the former California Assembly speaker’s reputation as a coalition builder and dynamic leader.

The governor’s backing is particularly noteworthy because it comes just three weeks before election day and at the expense of three mainstream Democrats who are running for mayor. Many observers thought the often cautious Davis would sit out the Los Angeles mayor’s race, seeing little potential for political gain, at least at this stage of the campaign.

But as Assembly speaker, Villaraigosa worked closely with Davis, winning the governor’s respect for bringing together legislators to mold an omnibus park bond measure, to greatly expand a health program for the poor and to help set performance standards for teachers.

“The governor feels that Antonio has the kind of dynamism and force that he would like to see in the mayor of Los Angeles,” said the source close to Davis, who asked to remain anonymous. “The governor knows all of these candidates and has worked with all of them, but he sees in Antonio the potential for putting together the same sort of history-making coalition that Mayor Tom Bradley did in 1973.”

Davis’ decision to back Villaraigosa “is based on his professional working relationship with Antonio, as well as a great personal fondness that developed between the two of them,” the source said.

Although the endorsement’s most obvious impact is on Villaraigosa’s campaign, it also sends important signals about Davis. The governor faces a reelection campaign next year--and is considered a potential presidential candidate at some point. His association with Villaraigosa could help cement his relations with Latinos and the working-class labor members who have formed an important bulwark of Villaraigosa’s mayoral campaign.

Villaraigosa is in a tight struggle to emerge as one of the two top vote-getters in the April 10 election to qualify for a June 5 runoff. Perhaps his strongest argument in his campaign against five other contenders is that he can bring together many diverse constituents--a potentially powerful message in a diffuse, sometimes divided city.

In making his pitch so far, however, the 48-year-old native Angeleno has relied mostly on liberal political allies and interest groups, such as the Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, National Organization for Women and the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.

But, particularly if he makes the runoff, any of Villaraigosa’s opponents are expected to depict him as too liberal. Whites who are moderate to conservative still hold considerable sway in the small Los Angeles electorate.

Davis could help appeal to those more moderate voters, not only as one of the state’s most recognizable public figures, but as one who has a proven appeal across the political spectrum. The governor is known as moderate to conservative on many issues, particularly crime and punishment. And his political standing has remained quite resilient, despite California’s energy crisis.

Just a month ago, a Times poll found that 58% of registered voters in Los Angeles County approve of the job Davis is doing as governor. Less than one-third disapprove. A similar number of registered voters approve of the way he is handling the state’s electricity shortages.

Emphasizing the centrist appeal they believe the endorsement represents, Villaraigosa’s campaign leaders have called a news conference for this afternoon in the heart of the largely white and moderate San Fernando Valley.

Davis plans to appear with Villaraigosa at the news conference at the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area in Encino, unless rolling electricity blackouts force him to remain in Sacramento.

The endorsement will be a significant coup for the Villaraigosa campaign, which had been privately hoping for weeks to land Davis’ backing. Villaraigosa campaign consultant Parke Skelton declined to comment Monday on Davis’ plans. Earlier in the campaign, however, Skelton had talked about the value of the governor’s support.

“I think it would help clarify that Antonio really is the official Democratic candidate in the mayor’s race,” Skelton said. “The governor is the most popular Democratic official in the state right now and it would be a tremendous boost to the campaign to get his support.”

Supporters of mayoral candidate James K. Hahn made a last-ditch effort to prevent the endorsement of Villaraigosa, making a number of calls to the governor’s representatives, according to those familiar with the situation. But Davis was determined to go ahead, even at the risk of alienating Hahn’s well-connected backers, because he feels so strongly about Villaraigosa, the source said.

The former Assembly leader and the governor were not always so close.

In the 1998 primary for governor, Villaraigosa campaigned enthusiastically for multimillionaire Al Checci, helping lead the businessman’s efforts to attract Latino votes.

When Checci finished out of the money in the primary, however, Villaraigosa immediately jumped aboard the campaign of then-Lt. Gov. Davis. Villaraigosa even taped Spanish-language television and radio spots for Davis.

When Davis trounced Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren and took office, he found an immediate ally in Villaraigosa.

The Assembly speaker disdained the attacks of other liberals, many of whom depicted the new governor as a Republican in Democratic clothing. And Villaraigosa was a diplomatic legislative partner, repeatedly saying he would let Davis set the agenda in Sacramento.

That was a stark contrast to Villaraigosa’s counterpart in the Legislature’s other body, caustic Senate President John Burton, who did not hesitate to strike out on his own.

In another campaign development Monday, Hahn announced that he has received the endorsement of former U.S. Commerce Secretary Mickey Kantor. Kantor, a lawyer whose political career had its roots in Los Angeles, said Hahn’s “experience and deep commitment to the people of Los Angeles” make him the best choice for mayor.

*

* HAHN AD CRITICIZED

League of Women Voters said mayoral hopeful James K. Hahn exaggerated his deeds. B3