California
Related: About this forumWhy a handful of rich charter school supporters are spending millions to elect Antonio Villaraigosa
California voters have seen a barrage of sunny television ads in recent weeks touting former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's record on finances, crime and education, aired by Families & Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor 2018.
But the group is, in fact, largely funded by a handful of wealthy charter-school supporters. Together they have spent more than $13 million in less than a month to boost Villaraigosa's chances in the June 5 primary at a time when his fundraising and poll numbers are lagging. Reed Hastings, the founder of Netflix, jump-started the group with a $7-million check, by far the largest donation to support any candidate in the election.
Their efforts are part of a broader proxy war among Democrats between teachers' unions longtime stalwarts of the party and those who argue that the groups have failed low-income and minority schoolchildren.
Gary Borden, senior vice president of the California Charter Schools Assn., which is behind the pro-Villaraigosa independent expenditure group, said it is backing Villaraigosa for his history of challenging the status quo in education as mayor of Los Angeles, including his efforts to take over the city's schools and his fight with teachers' unions.
Read more: http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-antonio-villaraigosa-charter-school-money-governor-20180514-story.html
TeamPooka
(24,205 posts)when they shoot unarmed citizens.
So he has a lot of support from folks I don't support.
Also I'll never forgive him for allowing legal cannabis dispensaries to be raided when he was my mayor.
he has been anti legalization of cannabis until 5 minutes before he declared his candidacy for gov.
I'm voting for Gavin.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,517 posts)That solidifies my vote for Gavin Newsom.
Mr.Bill
(24,238 posts)will be President of the Unites States someday. Probably more sooner than later. I will support getting him one step closer by making him our Governor. I've been in the room when he speaks. He has more charisma than Kennedy and Clinton combined.