Villaraigosa to skip '10 governor race

LOS ANGELES, June 22 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a leading prospect for the Democratic nomination, said Monday he will not run for governor of California in 2010.

During an appearance on CNN, Villaraigosa -- who was re-elected in March -- said he would complete his second term as mayor of Los Angeles. The city faces a $530 million deficit, a 12.5 percent unemployment rate and a housing crisis that has seen 20,000 people lose their homes during the past two years, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"I can't leave this city in the middle of a crisis," Villaraigosa said. "I feel compelled to complete what I started out to do."

Public opinion polls have indicated Villaraigosa is a leading contender for the Democratic nomination to succeed outgoing Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. A Field Poll conducted in March found that without U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein in the race, state Attorney General Jerry Brown was preferred by 25 percent of Democrats, followed by Villaraigosa at 22 percent and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom at 16 percent.

In announcing he will skip the race, Villaraigosa declined to endorse any candidate, the Times said. Newsom is an announced candidate but Brown -- who served two terms as governor from 1975 to 1983 -- has not formally announced his intentions.