Villaraigosa tests political waters in the Valley

*If you  put the clues together – listening and learning tour, politicos introducing him as the next Governor, an open Senate seat – it looks like former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is running, for something. VL

By Jeff Benzinger, Turlock Journal

Behaving very much like a candidate for governor without saying he is one, former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa moved around Mi Pueblo Market on Crows Landing Road Saturday afternoon during a leg of what he calls a “listening and learning tour.”

Although the 62-year-old Southern California Democrat has rarely visited Stanislaus County, Villaraigosa moved around the market and was warmly greeted like an old friend by the mostly Latino customer base and employee team. Earlier in the morning Villaraigosa toured the Resendiz Farms during a private stop in Hughson.

“This is our next governor of California – I can feel it,” announced Modesto City Councilman Tony Madrigal over the loud speaker set up in the bakery section of the store.

“He is feeling the waters,” said Maggie Mejia, president of the Latino Community Roundtable in Stanislaus County, who helped organize the event. “Who knows, maybe he’ll go for the Senate now that (Congresswoman) Loretta Sanchez has thrown her hat in the ring.”

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