I used to have an acquaintance whose signature phrase was, "I'll be right back." He'd come back hours or days later. He was also an occasional actor, and I think he'd be perfect for a new round of Antonio Villaraigosa campaign commercials.

As a preview of what a Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa would be like, reporters wanted to question him about a negative (believe it or don't) article in the L.A. Times. KABC reports:

Hahn again called on Villaraigosa to explain his vote against the Tyler Jaeger Act, which stiffened penalties for child abuse resulting in death.

Earlier, Villaraigosa said he voted for a stronger bill, but the Los Angeles Times today reported that legal experts say the other bill was actually weaker...

Needless to say, our tireless press corps wanted some answers:

When reporters tried to question Villaraigosa about The Times story at a campaign stop at a restaurant, he told them he was going to the bathroom and slipped out the back door...

"I was at Art's Deli — [AV's spokesman] was not," [Hahn campaign spokesman Jeff Millman] said. "Villaraigosa agreed to answer questions from reporters, but slipped out the back door instead. Even Controller Laura Chick, (Villaraigosa's) lunch companion, didn't know where he went."

Consider it a preview.