Antonio Villaraigosa, 2005 News

Los Angeles politician, was elected mayor of the city in May, defeating incumbent James Hahn, 59% to 41%. Villaraigosa, the city's first Hispanic mayor since 1872, faces the daunting task of stemming gang-related violence and improving a school system that graduates only 45% of its students. He lost the mayoral election to Hahn in 2001. He is a former city councilor and speaker of California's Assembly.