Antonio Villaraigosa Endorses Angelides for Governor

LOS ANGELES, CA - Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today endorsed Phil Angelides for Governor  praising Angelides' plan to cut middle class taxes, clean up the state's budget mess, invest in education and expand health care.  Angelides and Villaraigosa were joined by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom for a street rally in San Francisco and a school visit in Los Angeles where Angelides outlined his plans to reorder the state's priorities away from special interests and put them back on the side of middle class families and Mayors Villaraigosa and Newsom pledged their support for Angelides and his efforts to renew the promise of California.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I believe in Phil Angelides! I believe that Phil Angelides will win in November!  I believe Phil Angelides will bring our schools back!  I believe that Phil Angelides will stand up for the middle class.  And I believe that Phil Angelides will be one of California's greatest governors ever," said Villaraigosa. "Phil Angelides has the experience.  He has the intellect.  He has the heart.  He has the vision. And I believe he has the potential to be one of California's truly great governors."

"I am honored to have Antonio Villaraigosa standing by my side in this election. Mayor Villaraigosa is a proven leader and I look forward to working with him to improve education, expand access to health care and protect our environment," said Angelides. "Together, we will renew the promise of California and put our state back on the side of hard-working middle class families."

"We know we can always depend on Phil Angelides to stand with students and hard working middle class Californians," added Newsom. "I know Phil’s campaign of principle and belief will succeed this November and send Arnold Schwarzenegger back to making movies."

Angelides recently unveiled Renewing the Promise of California: The Angelides Plan to Build a Better Future for California and Middle Class Families, which features a middle class tax cut to help families meet the rising costs of living and provide more opportunities for California's children. Angelides' plan includes investments in education, infrastructure and renewable energy; expanded lending and lower taxes for small businesses, and $788 million of tax relief for hard working middle class families earning less than $100,000 a year.

"In the spirit of Earl Warren and Pat Brown, Phil Angelides understands that we won't remain a great state if we lose our middle class," added Villaraigosa. "Phil Angelides believes, just as I do, that improving public education is the fundamental challenge we face as a state and as a nation."