That's because the Los Angeles mayor, although widely admired for his skills and boundless energy on the public stage, has faced increasing buzz about what goes on behind the scenes. As a married father of two, Villaraigosa's current dilemma is decidedly different from that of Newsom, a divorced man who has apologized repeatedly for what he said was a severe lapse of judgment, and even distinct from that of Newsom's notoriously sociable predecessor, Brown -- who remains married to his wife of decades, Blanche, despite dating and even having a child with a paramour while in office. A recent profile in the New Yorker recounted how Villaraigosa -- who has two other adult daughters from relationships prior to his marriage -- infuriated supporters after his election to the California Assembly by leaving Corina and taking off with the wife of a friend, an incident he later called "a matter of the heart.
'' Now in the throes of divorce -- and with his heart apparently acting up again -- he could be forced to seek voters' support for his next political venture without what has proven to be an invaluable asset: a loyal wife standing alongside who can offer support. Just ask Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who had Maria Shriver at his side when he was accused of groping on movie sets, or former President Bill Clinton, defended vociferously by Hillary Clinton, about the value of such a political partner in stressful times.
"The problem is this: When you run for governor, if that's what Antonio intends to do, the level of scrutiny is far beyond that of any other office -- including U.S. Senate,'' says one leading Democratic political strategist who knows the mayor well.
"He'd be the first Latino legislator running for governor since the 1870s -- and if he thinks that doesn't subject him to a higher standard of scrutiny ...
it does.'' A statewide poll by a leading Democratic pollster of potential Democratic gubernatorial candidates in April suggests that Villaraigosa, although widely seen as a formidable force in a 2010 gubernatorial race, is hardly unstoppable. The poll showed that in a potential gubernatorial field, Brown, a former governor, leads the pack with 23 percentage points, followed by a tie between Newsom and Villaraigosa at 12 points and former state controller Steve Westly next at 11 points.
But if Brown, now California's attorney general, decides not to run, the poll showed that Westly and Newsom tied at 15 points, followed by Villaraigosa in third place with 13. The bottom line: With political rivals knocking at his door, another shocking episode of "Amor Prohibido" could turn the Los Angeles mayor's once-bright political future into a telenovela called "Mi Vida Loca.'' E-mail Carla Marinucci at cmarinucci@sfchronicle.
com. Mayoral affairs of the heart Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is the latest prominent mayor with a personal life that made headlines. Here are some others: San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom -- Earlier this year, the divorced mayor admitted an affair with the wife of a good friend and political aide, apologized and underwent counseling for what he said were alcohol-related problems.
San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales -- In 2000, Gonzales separated from his wife of 22 years and admitted to an affair with a 25-year-old staff member. San Francisco Mayor Willlie Brown -- In 2001, the 66-year-old mayor had an out-of-wedlock child with his chief fundraiser, Carolyn Carpeneti, who was nearly 30 years younger. Brown and his wife, Blanche -- who have three grown children -- are still married, although they have been separated for decades.
New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani -- In 2000, the mayor announced at a news conference his separation from his second wife, Donna Hanover, with whom he has two children. After an acrimonious divorce, he married Judith Nathan, whom he called his "good friend.'' This article appeared on page of the San Francisco Chronicle That's because the Los Angeles mayor, although widely admired for his skills and boundless energy on the public stage, has faced increasing buzz about what goes on behind the scenes.
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