Antonio Update

Yes, the Mayor is going out of town again. Travel gear available here.

The LA Times looks at Mayor V's "inner circle" of friends and advisors who range from former State Assembly Speaker Willie Brown to Valley businessman David Fleming. However the most influential member of the circle whose been at the Mayor's side for years is labor leader Maria Elena Durazo.

An LA Times reader makes an interesting point: If the Mayor wants to take over the LAUSD shouldn't he wait until he gets the LAPD in working order?

Speculation is that the Mayor plans to run for Governor in 2010. However, first he has to win the nomination and a poll shows that Attorney General Jerry Brown has a huge lead for the Democratic nomination, including even garnering half of the Hispanic vote. However, Jerry says he has no plans to run so that puts Antonio ahead of other comers such as San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, State Senator Jackie Speier and past nominee Phil Angelides.