But even as Villaraigosa demonstrated his pothole-filling technique, television reporters were hovering in the background, waiting for their opportunity. "This is going to be a lively session," one of them said.
When Villaraigosa strode to the podium and asked for questions, it didn't take long for the journalists to pull the mayor back to the scandal.
Did Salinas get special access to stories because of their relationship? It was a question he did not answer.
Asked if he thought the media had overplayed the story of his affair, Villaraigosa offered a surprising response.
"You have a responsibility to the people of this city to ask the tough questions," he said. "So I'm not going to complain about this situation."
Villaraigosa managed to display some humor during Monday's sometimes tense appearances.
As he raked the hot asphalt in Eagle Rock, he issued a polite warning to cameramen kneeling close to the work. "I don't want to hurt you," he said.
"Now's your chance," the cameraman responded.
"Nah, you're just doing your job."
After he finished the pothole, one of the workers yelled out: "You're hired."
Villaraigosa responded: "Hey, who knows?"
And so went Villaraigosa's first day in post-affair Los Angeles.
duke.helfand@latimes.com
