Los Angeles Elects Villaraigosa its New Mayor

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Antonio Villaraigosa pulled off a major upset in yesterday's mayoral election with a landslide victory over incumbent Jim Hahn. The win makes Villaraigosa the first Latino to lead Los Angeles since 1872. What does his victory mean? In the final 24 hours of the campaign, City Councilman crisscrossed the city, tirelessly greeting voters, even in the wee hours of the morning at all-night restaurants. Today, as he came out to thank supporters in south LA and the Valley, Villaraigosa was immediately confronted with the challenges of leading a city as diverse as Los Angeles, when fights broke out among students at Taft High School in Woodland Hills just prior to his arrival on campus. Guest host Diana Nyad joins former LA Times City Editor Bill Boyarsky and others for reaction and analysis of the bitter campaign and decisive victory. Reporter-s Notebook: LA's Last Latino Mayor It took 133 years for Angelinos to elect another Latino mayor. Who was the last one? California State Librarian emeritus Kevin Starr considers the role of Hispanics, from the 1870's to their becoming today's second largest ethnic group in Los Angeles.
Guest host Diana Nyad, who was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2002 as the world record-holder for the longest swim without the aid of a cage -- from Bimini to Florida, 102.5 miles! -- is a business sports columnist for Marketplace, has served as senior sports correspondent for Fox News, and has hosted her own show on CNBC. She's also the author of three books, Other Shores, Basic Training and The Keyshawn Johnson Story.

Villaraigosa's mayoral campaign

Hahn's re-election campaign

Hertzberg's mayoral campaign

Los Angeles election results

LA Times Poll (May 10) on mayoral race

WWLA on outsing of LAPD Chief Bernard Parks

TtP Making News segment on secession, 2001 mayoral race

Pico House

Pablo de la Guerra

North from Mexico by Carey McWilliams

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney

Producer:

Frances Anderton