SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom issued an apology Thursday following reports that he had an affair between his former assistant, the wife of his campaign manager, who resigned earlier this week
"Thank you all for coming here on short notice. I want to make it clear that everything you've heard and read is true," Newsom said. "I am deeply sorry about that. I hurt someone I care deeply about, Alex Tourk, his friends and family. That is something I have to live with and something that I am deeply sorry for."
Newsom said that he held himself accountable and will work hard to rebuild the trust of San Franciscans. Sources told NBC11 News that Tourk resigned Wednesday after confronting the mayor about an alleged affair involving Tourk's wife, 34-year-old Ruby Rippey-Tourk. Rippey-Tourk was Newsom's appointment secretary at the time of the alleged affair. She worked for the mayor from the time he took office to the spring of last year.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports Tourk's wife confessed to the affair as part of a substance abuse program.
The paper also said Tourk and Newsom were close and often socialized outside of work.
The report said the affair was short-lived and happened about a year and a half ago, during the mayor's divorce proceedings with his then-wife, Kimberly Guilfoyle.
Guilfoyle has since remarried and works as a Fox legal analyst in New York City.
The paper also said Tourk and Newsom were close and often socialized outside of work.
The report said the affair was short-lived and happened about a year and a half ago, during the mayor's divorce proceedings with his then-wife, Kimberly Guilfoyle.
Guilfoyle has since remarried and works as a Fox legal analyst in New York City.
Political observers said the divorced mayor's effusive apology, which came only hours after the story broke, may have helped defuse a scandal that threatened to haunt his bid for re-election in November.
"It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the Newsom campaigns and the city of San Francisco and its residents," Tourk said in a statement released Wednesday. "However, for personal reasons, I must resign my position as campaign manager of the mayor's re-election campaign. I am honored that, as deputy chief of staff, I helped create and implement key policy initiatives such as the Homeless Connect program that is now a national model for its compassionate and comprehensive approach to helping the homeless."
Newsom said he accepted the resignation with great sadness.
"It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the Newsom campaigns and the city of San Francisco and its residents," Tourk said in a statement released Wednesday. "However, for personal reasons, I must resign my position as campaign manager of the mayor's re-election campaign. I am honored that, as deputy chief of staff, I helped create and implement key policy initiatives such as the Homeless Connect program that is now a national model for its compassionate and comprehensive approach to helping the homeless."
Newsom said he accepted the resignation with great sadness.
Newsom's senior campaign strategist, Eric Jaye, would not confirm or deny the report, and declined to comment on it further.
Some Bay Area residents submitted their thoughts to NBC11:
"This is not the Mayor's private life. His affair he conducted was with the wife of a good friend. That is deplorable, but both the wife and his friend were also on the public payroll, as was the Mayor. Clinton's impeachment proceedings went forward on less scandal and betrayal of the public. The mayor should step down and out of the office he betrayed. His ethics are clearly tainted and unseemly and here that is certainly not a personal matter, but a public concern. Taking advantage of his position as Mayor to make love to a friend's wife would have been bad enough but here all involved in this triangle worked for the City and County of San Francisco. An effusive apology given only because he knew the truth had been told is no more honorable than the affair itself was," Sharon Jones said.
"The only issue I want to bring up that hasn't been mentioned is the fact that Alex Tourk's wife was the person who was unfaithful. She's the one who made the decision to end her marriage. Even if Mayor Newsome was the instigator, she should of (stet) thought about her husband and child. I guess this is why the divorce rate is so high in this country, because people just turn a deaf ear when they hear their wedding vows," Ed Bustos said.
"So he's human. He had an affair. Big deal. This is none of our business and has nothing to do with his role as the mayor. This is between the parties involved and their significant others. Period. We do not warrant or deserve his apology," Kathy McGilvery said.
"What a humiliating thing to do to someone who helped you get elected and was going to help you get re-elected. This type of thing is just a sign of total weakness on the part of the mayor. You are not even considering the fact that in the business world, having sexual relations with an employee, your secretary no less, could be considered sexual harassment in many cases and grounds for immediate termination," said John Rosica of San Jose.
"So he's human. He had an affair. Big deal. This is none of our business and has nothing to do with his role as the mayor. This is between the parties involved and their significant others. Period. We do not warrant or deserve his apology," said Kathy McGilvery.
Some Bay Area residents submitted their thoughts to NBC11:
"This is not the Mayor's private life. His affair he conducted was with the wife of a good friend. That is deplorable, but both the wife and his friend were also on the public payroll, as was the Mayor. Clinton's impeachment proceedings went forward on less scandal and betrayal of the public. The mayor should step down and out of the office he betrayed. His ethics are clearly tainted and unseemly and here that is certainly not a personal matter, but a public concern. Taking advantage of his position as Mayor to make love to a friend's wife would have been bad enough but here all involved in this triangle worked for the City and County of San Francisco. An effusive apology given only because he knew the truth had been told is no more honorable than the affair itself was," Sharon Jones said.
"The only issue I want to bring up that hasn't been mentioned is the fact that Alex Tourk's wife was the person who was unfaithful. She's the one who made the decision to end her marriage. Even if Mayor Newsome was the instigator, she should of (stet) thought about her husband and child. I guess this is why the divorce rate is so high in this country, because people just turn a deaf ear when they hear their wedding vows," Ed Bustos said.
"So he's human. He had an affair. Big deal. This is none of our business and has nothing to do with his role as the mayor. This is between the parties involved and their significant others. Period. We do not warrant or deserve his apology," Kathy McGilvery said.
"What a humiliating thing to do to someone who helped you get elected and was going to help you get re-elected. This type of thing is just a sign of total weakness on the part of the mayor. You are not even considering the fact that in the business world, having sexual relations with an employee, your secretary no less, could be considered sexual harassment in many cases and grounds for immediate termination," said John Rosica of San Jose.
"So he's human. He had an affair. Big deal. This is none of our business and has nothing to do with his role as the mayor. This is between the parties involved and their significant others. Period. We do not warrant or deserve his apology," said Kathy McGilvery.
Senate President pro Tem Don Perata said Thursday that Newsom can politically survive the scandal.
"So-called sex scandals or affairs of the heart come up in almost everybody's political life. The governor had to face that, other people have faced it, and you just move on," Perata said.
Perata said that most people are not interested in the private life of the mayor. He added that people are interested in his political and public work, and he thinks Gavin has done a fine job.
"People make judgments and then they either forget or they hold it against you. I just think it's very unfortunate that you have people around you who are allegedly your allies and close associates who drop the dime on you and go to the media. That is the bigger problem for Gavin Newsom. He has some people in his inner circle who do not want him to do well and that's the thing that bothers me the most," Perata said.
Perata said that the scandal "goes to the level of the spectacular tabloid kind of stuff."
"I would think the people who would hold this against him, already have a head start on not wanting to support him. I'm sorry that (the scandal) was made public. This is clearly something that should be done privately. I don't know anything other than what I read and I know not to trust much of what I read."
Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown did not hold back comment.
"I don't think the public is terribly distracted. I think the public in many cases finds it rather entertaining that suddenly they have someone who's still alive holding public office," said Brown.
Calls to Tourk from NBC11 were unanswered.
NBC11's Cheryl Hurd called Rippey-Tourk's place of employment and they said she would not be coming to work Thursday.
"So-called sex scandals or affairs of the heart come up in almost everybody's political life. The governor had to face that, other people have faced it, and you just move on," Perata said.
Perata said that most people are not interested in the private life of the mayor. He added that people are interested in his political and public work, and he thinks Gavin has done a fine job.
"People make judgments and then they either forget or they hold it against you. I just think it's very unfortunate that you have people around you who are allegedly your allies and close associates who drop the dime on you and go to the media. That is the bigger problem for Gavin Newsom. He has some people in his inner circle who do not want him to do well and that's the thing that bothers me the most," Perata said.
Perata said that the scandal "goes to the level of the spectacular tabloid kind of stuff."
"I would think the people who would hold this against him, already have a head start on not wanting to support him. I'm sorry that (the scandal) was made public. This is clearly something that should be done privately. I don't know anything other than what I read and I know not to trust much of what I read."
Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown did not hold back comment.
"I don't think the public is terribly distracted. I think the public in many cases finds it rather entertaining that suddenly they have someone who's still alive holding public office," said Brown.
Calls to Tourk from NBC11 were unanswered.
NBC11's Cheryl Hurd called Rippey-Tourk's place of employment and they said she would not be coming to work Thursday.
Since Newsom's February 2006 divorce from Guilfoyle, he has been linked to a series of women, including CSI star Sofia Milos. He also was reportedly dating a 20-year-old restaurant hostess.
The news of the alleged affair is in stark contrast to the first days as mayor of San Francisco. Newsom and Guilfoyle were once referred to as the "New Kennedys." At one point, the couple were pictured on the front page of Harper's Bazaar. The two were lying on the floor of the Gordon and Ann Getty mansion.
The scandal also hits as the mayor is gearing up for re-election.
Other top politicians have survived affairs, including former San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales, who was re-elected in 2002 after his extra-marital relationship with a young staff member.
Former New York mayor and potential presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani married his third wife after a public affair.
Former President Bill Clinton remains one of the country's most popular politicians despite his affair with Monica Lewinsky.
San Francisco City Hall Is "Abuzz"
City Hall "is all abuzz and chattering," Supervisor Tom Ammiano said. "Everyone's on adrenaline. Then there's going to be a crash."
Supervisor Chris Daly, a vocal critic of the Newsom administration, and former Supervisor Tony Hall, a possible candidate in the 2007 mayoral election, also commented Thursday on the political implications of the mayor's affair.
Daly said the affair raises concerns about a relationship with a woman working in the office, but his main concern was for Alex Tourk, who has a young child with Rippey-Tourk.
"While we've been on opposite sides of the political battle, I feel sorry for him," Daly said. "He's a good guy."
Daly went on to say that the real ramifications of today's announcement -- both ethical and legal -- won't be known for weeks, but he did say that the management of the mayor's office could be thrown into turmoil, and that he wouldn't capitalize on that disruption.
"There's no secret that I've been looking for a good progressive candidate to challenge the mayor," Daly said. "This, frankly has put that search on hold."
Hall, who is considering challenging Newsom, said his possible mayoral bid "is certainly not going to be based on Newsom's misdeeds."
However, he said, "I'm getting an awful lot of encouragement, especially after today."
Hall said Newsom's affair is an example of what the former supervisor calls a pattern of dishonesty and had harsh criticism for the mayor.
The news of the alleged affair is in stark contrast to the first days as mayor of San Francisco. Newsom and Guilfoyle were once referred to as the "New Kennedys." At one point, the couple were pictured on the front page of Harper's Bazaar. The two were lying on the floor of the Gordon and Ann Getty mansion.
The scandal also hits as the mayor is gearing up for re-election.
Other top politicians have survived affairs, including former San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales, who was re-elected in 2002 after his extra-marital relationship with a young staff member.
Former New York mayor and potential presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani married his third wife after a public affair.
Former President Bill Clinton remains one of the country's most popular politicians despite his affair with Monica Lewinsky.
San Francisco City Hall Is "Abuzz"
City Hall "is all abuzz and chattering," Supervisor Tom Ammiano said. "Everyone's on adrenaline. Then there's going to be a crash."
Supervisor Chris Daly, a vocal critic of the Newsom administration, and former Supervisor Tony Hall, a possible candidate in the 2007 mayoral election, also commented Thursday on the political implications of the mayor's affair.
Daly said the affair raises concerns about a relationship with a woman working in the office, but his main concern was for Alex Tourk, who has a young child with Rippey-Tourk.
"While we've been on opposite sides of the political battle, I feel sorry for him," Daly said. "He's a good guy."
Daly went on to say that the real ramifications of today's announcement -- both ethical and legal -- won't be known for weeks, but he did say that the management of the mayor's office could be thrown into turmoil, and that he wouldn't capitalize on that disruption.
"There's no secret that I've been looking for a good progressive candidate to challenge the mayor," Daly said. "This, frankly has put that search on hold."
Hall, who is considering challenging Newsom, said his possible mayoral bid "is certainly not going to be based on Newsom's misdeeds."
However, he said, "I'm getting an awful lot of encouragement, especially after today."
Hall said Newsom's affair is an example of what the former supervisor calls a pattern of dishonesty and had harsh criticism for the mayor.
"The city deserves so much more. This really speaks volumes about Newsom's trustworthiness that he would do this to his best friend," Hall said. "It's sad that people have to see this type of thing unravel to see that this administration is mainly concerned with spin and fooling the public. It's time the truth started coming out."
Newsom fired Hall as executive director of the Treasure Island Development Authority in October after appointing him in 2005. Hall was a member of the Board of Supervisors when Newsom tapped him to lead the agency in August 2004.
"Homelessness, crime, the facts about the 49ers -- everything (Newsom) has touched he's messed up and now he's messing up the relationships of his best friends," Hall said.
After the announcement, Newsom walked into his office with his head bowed, but his press secretary, Peter Ragone, spent at least a half hour outside the Room 200 answering questions about the future of the administration.
Ragone was adamant that the mayor's staff will remain behind Newsom as he seeks re-election in November. He added that top officials in the administration all gathered before today's announcement to discuss the mayor's "dramatic mistake."
"What is the political fallout?" Ragone said. "That's for the media, the pundits, the political talkers to figure out. That's not what we're focused on. What we're focused on is helping the mayor fix anything he needs to fix here in the city ... He's admitted to making a very serious mistake and there's a tremendous amount of weight on his shoulders."
Ragone added that the mayor is relying on friends, family and his "political family" to get through the tough times ahead.
Ammiano said he believes time will tell whether Newsom can recover from the scandal.
"If he's going to prove his character, it's going to be in the way he responds to this," Ammiano said this afternoon. "People allow stumbles, but you only get so many. How he's going to perform and how he's going to behave is going to determine his future. The ball's in his court."
Newsom has a lot of support, Ammiano noted, but the admission of the affair has raised grave concerns among his constituents and colleagues.
"He has morale issues, he has trust issues. Certainly I have deep concerns about judgment," he said.
The scandal will also likely prove difficult for Newsom's staffers, Ammiano said.
"They have to deal with the public reaction as well as their own personal feelings. Therein could be the morale issue," he said.
Ultimately, Newsom's indiscretion will not change what San Franciscans expect of their city leaders, but news of the affair has been a major distraction for lawmakers, Ammiano said.
"It's been messy. I think the worst thing is it's such a distraction to the everyday city governance," he said.
Daly echoed those sentiments and added that the mayor's infidelity goes way beyond politics.
"I have a strong set of core beliefs in politics but they're not as important as personal relationships," said Daly, who added that he felt lucky to be in a committed relationship with his wife of three-and-a-half years. "Respect and trust when you're an elected official is paramount."
In light of the announcement, Newsom canceled a scheduled appearance Thursday afternoon with police Chief Heather Fong and Municipal Transportation Authority Director Nathaniel Ford.
Newsom fired Hall as executive director of the Treasure Island Development Authority in October after appointing him in 2005. Hall was a member of the Board of Supervisors when Newsom tapped him to lead the agency in August 2004.
"Homelessness, crime, the facts about the 49ers -- everything (Newsom) has touched he's messed up and now he's messing up the relationships of his best friends," Hall said.
After the announcement, Newsom walked into his office with his head bowed, but his press secretary, Peter Ragone, spent at least a half hour outside the Room 200 answering questions about the future of the administration.
Ragone was adamant that the mayor's staff will remain behind Newsom as he seeks re-election in November. He added that top officials in the administration all gathered before today's announcement to discuss the mayor's "dramatic mistake."
"What is the political fallout?" Ragone said. "That's for the media, the pundits, the political talkers to figure out. That's not what we're focused on. What we're focused on is helping the mayor fix anything he needs to fix here in the city ... He's admitted to making a very serious mistake and there's a tremendous amount of weight on his shoulders."
Ragone added that the mayor is relying on friends, family and his "political family" to get through the tough times ahead.
Ammiano said he believes time will tell whether Newsom can recover from the scandal.
"If he's going to prove his character, it's going to be in the way he responds to this," Ammiano said this afternoon. "People allow stumbles, but you only get so many. How he's going to perform and how he's going to behave is going to determine his future. The ball's in his court."
Newsom has a lot of support, Ammiano noted, but the admission of the affair has raised grave concerns among his constituents and colleagues.
"He has morale issues, he has trust issues. Certainly I have deep concerns about judgment," he said.
The scandal will also likely prove difficult for Newsom's staffers, Ammiano said.
"They have to deal with the public reaction as well as their own personal feelings. Therein could be the morale issue," he said.
Ultimately, Newsom's indiscretion will not change what San Franciscans expect of their city leaders, but news of the affair has been a major distraction for lawmakers, Ammiano said.
"It's been messy. I think the worst thing is it's such a distraction to the everyday city governance," he said.
Daly echoed those sentiments and added that the mayor's infidelity goes way beyond politics.
"I have a strong set of core beliefs in politics but they're not as important as personal relationships," said Daly, who added that he felt lucky to be in a committed relationship with his wife of three-and-a-half years. "Respect and trust when you're an elected official is paramount."
In light of the announcement, Newsom canceled a scheduled appearance Thursday afternoon with police Chief Heather Fong and Municipal Transportation Authority Director Nathaniel Ford.
1 comment:
Here's the thing.
Private lives are private lives.
The private life of a public official must be open for public perusal.
It's like the blackmailing of homosexuals, during the wars, to force them to betray secrets to our enemies. Also, if we everyone expects the truth to come out, then perhaps fewer people will be murdered to hush up the facts.
Cynical, eh.
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