Looks like state Sen. Alex Padilla is throwing his hat into the ring as L.A.'s mayoral race for 2013 begins to awaken. Already rumored to be interested in the gig are City Council President Eric Garcetti, Grove shopping center developer Rick Caruso, county Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, city Councilwoman Jan Perry and City Controller Wend Greuel.

The Downtown News reports that Padilla, who represents the east San Fernando Valley, told the Los Angeles Current Affairs Forum on Wednesday that he's interested in the job once Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa leaves office.

“I'm definitely looking at it,” Padilla is quoted as saying. “This is home. I love the city. After seven and a half years I know City Hall fairly well.”

Padilla, a Pacoima native, is somewhat of a Valley golden boy of politics, having been the youngest City Council president in history and a graduate of MIT.

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