Posted on 07/04/2005 10:52:18 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Let the honeymoon begin.
With Antonio Villaraigosa officially ensconced as mayor, many of his supporters are viewing his first year as a test as much of the city as of him.
"The biggest enemy out there for Antonio Villaraigosa is Antonio Villaraigosa," one supporter said at the $500-a-person Music Center gala that preceded Friday's inauguration.
The fear, voiced by many, is that Villaraigosa - and his staff - will begin to believe all the hype about his political potential.
Most immediately is the prospect of him entering the governor's race next year.
As Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's poll numbers drop and the Democrats have no clear front-runner, a possible Villaraigosa candidacy could be enticing.
However, it has proved to be a difficult road for other mayors - remember the candidacies of former Mayor Tom Bradley - and it could result in a drop in Villaraigosa prestige among voters early on in his administration. Villaraigosa has tried to scotch such rumors, repeatedly saying he was elected to be mayor and that's all he's concentrating on.
When it comes to name ID in politics, few can beat Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky. People might not be able to say it or spell it, but they never forget it.
Yaroslavsky noted it was one of the many things he has in common with Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, who was forced from office last week because of term limits.
"I might be the only one here who never had a problem spelling her name," Yaroslavsky said at ceremonies for her last week. "That's why we had a pact to always vote for one another."
While Miscikowski lamented her departure, one person who was happy about it was her husband, attorney Doug Ring.
"I want to write a story about the merits of term limits," Ring said.
Miscikowski also left a message for her successor, Bill Rosendahl, whom she did not support in this year's election.
In a plain envelope, Miscikowski advised him not to compromise on his beliefs and all other matters would take care of themselves.
The departure of officials last week also drew some surprising admissions.
Councilwoman Wendy Greuel - her face turning red from embarrassment - told Mayor James Hahn of the first time she saw him.
"I was 22 years old and part of the young leadership group brought in by (former Mayor Bradley)," Greuel said. "We were meeting in the mayor's press conference room and I saw you walk in and I said, `Who is that handsome man?'"
Hahn laughed it off, but his sister, Councilwoman Janice Hahn, took note of it.
"Wendy, I never knew. Our relationship could have been so different," she said.
The neighborhood councils operating throughout the city were designed to be a political incubator, and it appears they have one of their first hatchlings.
Jim Alger, a member of the Northridge West Neighborhood Council, took out papers to run for the state Assembly in the 38th District that is being vacated by Assemblyman Keith Richman, R-Granada Hills, because of term limits.
For his part, Richman is looking to move on to statewide office, running for state treasurer.
Here in LA my advice, HOLD ON TO YOUR WALLETS, this guy is muy liberal, wants to give us everything, who's gonna pay for it, well we know the answer to that one, now don't we, LOL.
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