Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Plans to ‘Ride Into the Sunset’ After Term Ends

On Sunday after “This Week,” Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa sat down for a web interview answering viewer questions from Facebook and Twitter.  Villaraigosa discussed L.A. traffic, his wishes for the city, and the origins of his last name.  What’s next for Villaraigosa?  He says he will “ride into the sunset for a bit.”

“I think I’ll work in the private sector, maybe join a speaker’s bureau, if you will. Write a book. Affiliate with a think tank. And get ready… I love public service, it’s an honor.  It’s been a real honor to be mayor of the city that my grandpa came to a hundred years ago. I wanna continue to serve, but a little time for reflection is always good.”

Read More Below:

Lara Arcas: If you could do anything for your city that needed to be done without any limit, what would it be?

“I’d make sure that every kid could read. That all of our students who are graduating from high school and either going to college or have the skills they need to be successful in the new economy, where intellectual capital is so important.”

Max Zimbert ‏@MaxZimbert

@ThisWeekABC @villaraigosa @GStephanopoulos what’s the worst LA drive he’s had to undertake as a civilian?

“The worst LA drive — there are so many of them — a city known for gridlock. You know, I think there’ve been a few drives coming out of Dodgers stadium from time to time that makes you feel like you wanna walk.”

Christopher Gossett: Why did he change his name?

“Well, my ex-wife and I were at a party one day and talking about getting married. They asked her if she was going to keep her name, and I responded ‘Well, of course she’s going to keep her name.’  And she said no, she was going to take on mine. So I said, ‘Well, if you’re going to take on mine, I’ll take on yours.’ And we melded two names together and we’ve kept it, our kids have it… It was a testament to the notion that when you get married you’re individuals, but you come together as one.”

Lorane Enriquez: What is he going to do next?

“The perennial question. Ride into the sunset for a bit. I think I’ll work in the private sector, maybe join a speaker’s bureau, if you will. Write a book. Affiliate with a think tank.  And get ready… I love public service, it’s an honor. It’s been a real honor to be mayor of the city that my grandpa came to a hundred years ago. I wanna continue to serve, but a little time for reflection is always good.”

Lightning Round:

Favorite Movie:

“Schindler’s List”

First Concert:

“Three Dog Night”

Special Talent:

“Donna Brazile says I can dance.  We were dancing on Inauguration night in the East Wing… So I guess dance… it’s a nice little skill.”

Viewer questions have been edited, shortened and condensed in some cases. 

ABC

Like “This Week” on Facebook here. You can also follow the show on Twitter here.