In-debt mayor seeks help from LA mayor

Associated Press

Updated: May 23, 2012 2:51 PM

The Las Cruces mayor is hoping to wipe out a $19,000 campaign debt with some help from his Los Angeles counterpart.

Mayor Ken Miyagishima told the Las Cruces Sun-News ( http://bit.ly/JU0MI5) on Tuesday he wants to convince Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to travel to New Mexico for a fundraiser.

Miyagishima says he spent about $20,000 more than he got in campaign contributions during his November re-election.

A city ordinance requires officials continue filing campaign finance reports until the debt is paid.

Miyagishima says he and Villaraigosa became friends after meeting at a mayoral conference.

Miyagishima has been discussing fundraising ideas with El Paso Mayor John Cook, who is also trying to pay off $310,000 in legal expenses from a recall campaign.

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