July 9, 2007: Very Public Divorce for L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa after Affairs

News of a divorce out of Los Angeles is not always, well, NEWS. But when it concerns Los Angeles’ head honcho, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, even the most jaded Angelenos have paid attention. Villaraigosa and wife Corina, parents of two teenage children, recently announced that their 20-year marriage has ended. Many people who know the couple and his affairs were reportedly not surprised by the announcement. Apparently, their marriage barely survived affairs that the Mayor had over the years, which had caused the couple to separate in the past. Although the normally chatty Mayor would initially not share the details of the couple’s problems beyond the legal claim of "irreconcilable differences", many had speculated that adultery was the possible cause.

More information about affairs: Frequent Questions about Infidelity Rebuild Trust after Betrayal Forgive Him... for Now Warning Signs of Infidelity Yer Cheatin' Heart

Sure enough, Villaraigosa has now recently admitted to an extramarital affair with Los Angeles newscaster Mirthala Salinas. This proves to be a public challenge for the mayor -- who many have pegged as the future governor -- as he is now having to face serious questions about his character due to the affair. Will this put his political career in jeopardy?  Looking back at the history of NY Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and others, some political analysts say NO. Although the mayor says he feels a "personal sense of failure" about his marriage, which many people often do.

Of course, those of us who live in Los Angeles wonder when the Mayor could possibly have found time for an affair! It is nearly impossible to turn on the local news without seeing the Mayor out somewhere, posing for the cameras. Any number of things other than affairs could have played a role in the demise of this marriage -- especially when one spouse is in such a powerful and public position as Villaraigosa, who also is forced to put in many long hours as L.A.'s mayor. So one has to wonder -- was it the mayor's affairs with other women that ultimately destroyed this marriage, or was it more his affair with his CAREER? Stay tuned... we'll see how long his latest relationship will be able to survive under such circumstances, and if -- as he begins to plot his strategy for potentially running for governor -- he will be able to be any more faithful in his affair with Salinas than he was to his wife.

WENDY JAFFE, Esq. is the author of "The Divorce Lawyers' Guide to Staying Married." You can get more of Jaffe's advice and hear a podcast interview at AOL.com, and you may also visit her website at divorcelawyersguide.com.

• Warning Signs of Infidelity
• Breaking the news
• Splitting
• The Good Divorce
• and many more.

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