Riordan Weighed Endorsement Until Last Day

Mayor Richard Riordan made up his mind two weeks ago that if he endorsed anyone to succeed him, it would be Antonio Villaraigosa. He decided that City Atty. James K. Hahn was not dynamic enough to lead Los Angeles. But before announcing his decision to the world Wednesday, Riordan hesitated.

On Tuesday afternoon, less than 24 hours before hosting a spirited rally for Villaraigosa outside City Hall, Riordan summoned top aides to his office and asked them to debate the former Assembly speaker’s pros and cons one last time.

An animated discussion of more than an hour ensued. Two assistants lobbied for Hahn, another for Villaraigosa. A trusted former lieutenant weighed in by telephone from her new job in the White House--urging no endorsement. Riordan left the meeting with no decision. But a few hours later, Riordan stepped outside to a reception at the mayor’s official residence, Getty House, and told his chief of staff, Kelly Martin, that he had settled on Villaraigosa.

The frenetic lobbying for Riordan’s endorsement was a measure of not only how much the nod could mean to the two men who want to lead Los Angeles, but also to Riordan’s potential run for governor.

As Riordan prepared to finalize his decision Tuesday, he received a call from Noelia Rodriguez, formerly his deputy mayor for communications and a highly trusted ally. Rodriguez is now press secretary to First Lady Laura Bush.

“I tell you I have such confidence in Noelia that when she called, I came screeching to a halt,” Riordan said.

The mayor said that his former aide warned him that an endorsement of Villaraigosa would not be well received by Riordan’s fellow Republicans and didn’t help his own legacy. “She said there was a lot of popularity and respect for what I have done. I don’t like the word legacy, but she used that word,” Riordan recalled. “She said I would get beat up a little bit for this, but I don’t mind getting beat up.”

Ben Austin, Riordan’s current deputy for communications, argued most strongly for Villaraigosa while two mayoral lieutenants--Gaye Williams and Ann D’Amato--also joined the debate.

According to the mayor, Rodriguez made one last attempt to change Riordan’s thinking. But by the time of her call to Riordan’s home at 5:30 Wednesday morning, Riordan said he had made up his mind. He listened for 20 minutes but was unmoved. Six hours later, he was on a stage with Villaraigosa.