Antonio Villaraigosa Wins Landslide Election with the Help of IATSE
When IATSE International President Tom Short announced that the IATSE was giving Villaraigosa their unconditional support earlier this spring, he called Antonio a "true friend to the IATSE and a champion of our industry." In a show support for Villaraigosa, IATSE members, officers and staff manned phone banks and walking precincts to turn out voters for him. President Short noted that Antonio had a long record of supporting the entertainment industry - a record dating back to his days in the California State Assembly. Short said that Villaraigosa would "fight to keep our $31 billion industry thriving in Southern California" and this was the reason the IATSE endorsed him so strongly. Because of the support of a variety of different constituencies including the IATSE, Villaraigosa swept most sections of the city. He won every council district but two.
Villaraigosa held on to his support from four years ago in the heavily Latino East LA and east San Fernando Valley communities. The enthusiasm for his campaign among Latino voters was significant. Latinos represented 25 percent of the total vote on Tuesday, May 17, compared to 22 percent four years ago and only 10 percent in 1993. But just as important as his support among Latinos were the gains he made in other communities. The percentage of African-American's supporting Villaraigosa more than doubled, increasing from 20 percent in 2001 to almost 50 percent. Predominantly white areas also turned out for him, including voters in the San Fernando Valley who, four years ago supported Hahn, but this year turned out for Villaraigosa. Voters indicated a high level of dissatisfaction with Hahn. Sixty percent of Hahn voters said they did so as the lesser of two evils. By comparison, 67 percent of Villaraigosa's votes came from people who strongly supported him and his vision for a stronger Los Angeles. Antonio Villaraigosa will be sworn in as Mayor of Los Angeles on July 1. 05-19 |
Los Angeles Councilmember Antonio Villaraigosa defeated incumbent Mayor
James Hahn in a crushing victory May 17 in the LA mayoral race. Villaraigosa
took 59 percent of the vote to Hahn's 41 percent. Local 600 had joined
the IATSE in unanimously endorsing Villaraigosa during the campaign.
Villaraigosa historic victory makes him the first Latino mayor of Los
Angeles in more than 130 years. It also marks the first time an incumbent
mayor has been turned out of office since 1973, when Tom Bradley won
in a rematch against incumbent Sam Yorty to become the first black mayor
of Los Angeles.