Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa has for the second time rejected the Los Angeles Fire & Police Pension System board's choice of William S. Raggio as general manager.
In a March 26 letter to the board, Mr. Villaraigosa said he was exercising his authority to veto the appointment of Mr. Raggio, who has been acting general manager of the $15.7 billion pension fund since former General Manager Michael A. Perez retired in May 2012. Mr. Villaraigosa did not give a reason for his decision.
Following the mayor's initial disapproval of Mr. Raggio as general manager last June, the pension fund launched a nationwide search using independent search firm Waters Consulting Group. At its March 16 meeting, the board again selected Mr. Raggio, who was a finalist on Waters' list, said Dean Hansell, board chairman. The first nationwide search was conducted in-house by the city's personnel department, and Mr. Villaraigosa asked for an outside search firm in his initial veto letter, Mr. Hansell said.
The board is expected to decide how it will proceed at its April 4 meeting, Mr. Hansell said.
Peter Sanders, deputy press secretary for Mr. Villaraigosa, could not be reached for comment by press time.
