Garcetti Announces Mayoral Candidacy

Only in Los Angeles city politics can a move from president to mayor be considered a step up.

Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti officially announced that he will be running for the city's top executive office on Thursday morning. 

Soon after filing the required paperwork, Garcetti made the news public to his Facebook friends:

I made it official this morning and took out papers to run for Mayor. I love LA--the best city in the world--and it is time for focused leadership, innovation, and a vision to inspire this city. I hope to earn your support as we approach Election Day. Together, let's put LA back on top.

Click here to see the Facebook announcement.

Garcetti joins a field that includes City Controller Wendy Greuel and City Councilwoman Jan Perry.

ANNOUNCEMENT IS NO SURPRISE

The move isn't a surprise, though the timing is a little bit unexpected.

The City Council president had hinted this summer that he would probably wait until the fall to make any kind of a decision.

He has represented CD13--which includes Echo Park, Silver Lake, and part of Hollywood--for three terms, and will be termed out in 2012.

Current Mayor Antonia Villaraigosa's term as mayor expires in 2013.

Garcetti, 40, was born at Good Samaritan Hospital and raised in the San Fernando Valley.

He attended Columbia, where he got his bachelor and masters degrees. He is fluent in Spanish, and has taught at Occidental College in Eagle Rock.

He currently lives in Silver Lake with his wife Amy.

Garcetti also lived in Echo Park for many years.