Villaraigosa Takes Campaign East

Capitalizing on hopes that he will become a Democratic star and the first modern-day Latino mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa on Wednesday completed a two-day, seven-event fundraising swing down the East Coast that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The three private events in South Florida and two fundraisers each in New York and Washington D.C. infused Villaraigosa’s campaign with much-needed cash to run a television campaign against incumbent Mayor James K. Hahn.

Although Villaraigosa was co-chairman of Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kerry’s presidential campaign, much of the money in the Miami area came from the politically powerful Cuban American community, which is overwhelmingly Republican.

Miami lobbyist Sylvester Lukis, who hosted a reception in Coral Gables, said that Villaraigosa’s shot at becoming the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles since 1872 is a source of pride for many who attended the fundraising events in Florida.

“Clearly, what plays a significant role is the Hispanic culture, the feeling of loyalty,” Lukis said.

Villaraigosa, in an effort to appeal to the city’s diverse voters, has downplayed the historic nature of his campaign and stressed that he intends to be a mayor who unites L.A. Villaraigosa faces Hahn in a May 17 runoff, the second time the two politicians will have battled for the city’s top job.

Fred Menachem, a fundraiser for former Democratic Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas, said the two receptions and dinner in the Miami area would raise about $100,000 for Villaraigosa.

“Miami has always been a significant opportunity to raise money,” he said. “There are a lot of successful people who care about politics.”

Donors attending a $1,000-a-person reception for the Los Angeles city councilman at an upscale Italian restaurant in the Miami suburb of Coral Gables drank California wine, ate shrimp on endive and heard Villaraigosa speak about the need for a fresh start in the nation’s second-largest city.

Joe Garcia, former executive director of the Cuban American National Foundation, said Villaraigosa has a national profile. “When he speaks, a huge part of the country pays attention. It’s not about his being a Hispanic,” Garcia said. “He has held the position of power. Everyone sees him as an up-and-comer.”

The bipartisan nature of the Coral Gables reception was underscored by the presence of Tirso del Junco, a Cuban American and former chairman of the California Republican Party.

Villaraigosa said the East Coast fundraising trip had gone well. “It has been a very successful trip,” he said. “More than anything, people are excited about a leader who understands that as a global city, Los Angeles needs to connect with more cities across the country. We need to create trade and commerce that is so essential to our well-being.”

After a breakfast and lunch event Tuesday in New York, Villaraigosa went to Washington for an evening reception that drew Sen. Barbara Boxer and several other members of Congress. Villaraigosa attended another reception Wednesday morning with Reps. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) and Joe Baca Jr. (D-Rialto) before flying to Miami.

Villaraigosa said the fundraisers attracted a broad spectrum of donors. “This was every group you could think of. There were Jews. There were whites. There were blacks. There were Latinos. Obviously, a lot of Latinos,” he said.

Ari Swiller, a Los Angeles strategist who accompanied Villaraigosa, said the councilman’s role in the Kerry campaign helped him raise money on the East Coast.

“A lot of these people got to know him very well and respect his leadership,” Swiller said. “I think that was a big driver for why we have national support.”

Even before the trip, Florida was the largest source of campaign money for Villaraigosa outside of California. Florida donors had given $72,850 to the candidate through April 2. New York was second at $34,450, and Washington D.C. was third at $21,450.

Villaraigosa has so far raised about 10.7% of his contributions from out of state, while Hahn has raised 9.8%. New York was the largest source of contributions to Hahn from outside California, followed by Illinois and Texas.

Rabin reported from Los Angeles and Dahlburg from Coral Gables. Times researcher Maloy Moore contributed to this report.