As leader of the California Assembly, Antonio worked with both parties to balance the state budget, with record investments in education and public safety, while holding the line on taxes and delivering a $13 billion budget surplus.
As Mayor, Antonio hired nearly 1,000 new police officers, invested in crime prevention and gang intervention strategies that became a federal model, spearheaded anti-domestic violence efforts, and took illegal guns off the streets – from his first year as mayor to his last year in office violent crime plummeted 48%, making Los Angeles one of the safest big cities in America.
Antonio turned around failing schools – increasing graduation rates by 60% and led the city’s economic recovery out of recession. His results led President Obama to say Antonio Villaraigosa was “one of the finest leaders” in America.
Antonio understands that California faces serious problems, and that money alone won’t fix them. He focuses on solutions, investing in what works and fixing what’s broken.
