Eliot Spitzer Running for New York Mayor?
Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer—who resigned after getting caught soliciting prostitute Ashley Dupré and violating interstate-trafficking laws—wants to be the mayor of New York City. When asked for comment about his mayoral ambitions, Spitzer’s spokesperson declined to comment.
“His plan is to run for mayor when Mike Bloomberg‘s third term ends in 2013,” a source told the New York Post.
“I don’t see New Yorkers voting to put an un-convicted criminal into City Hall,” says former Manhattan Madam Kristin Davis, who is running for New York governor as a Libertarian.
Davis was arrested after Spitzer gave authorities the names of the escort-service owners and prostitutes who he had used for sex. Davis was convicted of promoting prostitution in the third degree. So why is it justified for Davis to run for office, but not Spitzer?
“I’ve redeemed myself. I served my time in Rikers, forfeited my assets,” she told Human Events in an interview. “Spitzer has not made any redemption—other than redeeming his own public image. He hasn’t sought forgiveness … and he hasn’t done any humanitarian work for the 18-plus million New Yorkers he let down.”
Spitzer—aka “Client No. 9”—has been trying to rehabilitate his image for another shot at public office. In May, he told NY1: “Am I ruling it out? No. I’ve made it very clear that I’m not ruling it out.” He denied, however, that his recent public moves are part of a campaign to return to politics, insisting that “this is not some predestined course by any stretch of the imagination.”
Davis explains the difference between her political campaign and Spitzer’s is that hers “is largely volunteer, pro-bono effort. It’s not about publicity, but about using our voices for the issues.”
“I’m running for office to give a voice to the causes New Yorkers care about: lowering taxes, legalizing marijuana and prostitution—ways of bringing new revenue into the state,” she said.
Spitzer has made several public moves to position himself for a mayoral bid when Bloomberg’s third term ends in 2013. He will co-host a nightly talk show on CNN at 8 p.m. with Kathleen Parker. Amid criticism and controversy, CNN President Jon Kleinhas so far stood by his decision to put the admitted “john” Spitzer on its network.
Spitzer also cooperated with director Alex Gibney on a documentary about his life since the scandal. “The movie leaves the impression that Mr. Spitzer is guilty of impolite efforts to wage war against scrupulous greedy business men, and for having a libido,” writes a review in The Observer.
“We’ve seen enough politicians lie their way into office, only to get indicted afterwards,” says Davis.
“Spitzer’s criminal patterns prove that he’ll only let us down again,” said Davis. “This shyster should not be trusted. He’ll only let us down again.”
Side-note: Eliot Spitzer now works for his father, Bernard Spitzer, a real estate magnate worth over $500 million. In an ironic twist, Ashley DuprĂ© (the prostitute who brought down Spitzer) is studying at NYU to be a real estate broker. She toldPage Six that “New York City real estate has always been an interest of mine.” One can imagine the scene at a real estate settlement if DuprĂ© represents a client in the Spitzers’ real estate holdings.
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