INLAND VALLEY, CA--The Inland Valley News has joined the growing list of newspapers and political groups to endorse Antonio Villaraigosa in his bid for governor.
Villaraigosa was surrounded by Inland Empire ministers and civic leaders during the announcement. Pastor Kevin Moreland of the Worship in Truth Church of God in Christ, San Bernardino described Villaraigosa as "a great leader in our community."
"We know what Anthony Villaraigosa has done," said Moreland. "His work speaks for itself."
In a brief speech, Villaraigosa said that although California had the fifth largest economy in the world, it has the nation's worst poverty. He said he wanted to create a California that worked for everyone.
"I think we can do better," said Villaraigosa.
He also touched on other pressing issues such as affordable housing, the cost of college and the importance of early childhood education.
"We should make it affordable for our kids to go to school," said Villaraigosa.
Although Villaraigosa served as mayor of Los Angeles, a survey by the Public Policy Research Institute (PRPI) shows that he lags behind former Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom in the gubernatorial race. The PRPI poll showed 33 percent of black voters preferred Newsom, while 16 percent voted for Villaraigosa. Newsom's political base is in Northern California. (He previously served as mayor of San Francisco.)
Fifty-two percent of the people more than 1,300 people surveyed reside in Los Angeles.