Spitzer again makes New Yorkers ponder forgiveness

Martha T. Moore | USA TODAY

NEW YORK — It was hard to spot former governor Eliot Spitzer as he tried to campaign Monday — the media scrum around him was large and persistent — but easy for New York voters to decide what they think about a disgraced politician trying to return to office. And why not? They're getting plenty of practice.

"Too soon,'' said Julia Mair, a documentary scriptwriter, as she walked by the media horde gathered near the Union Square farmer's market in downtown Manhattan. "All these guys, they lie and they lie and they lie, and then they think we should trust them and give them another chance. Why should we think they're going to do anything different?''

"He did his time. Give him another try.'' said Geraldo Gual, 40, a cardiology case manager escorting his son to a school prep program. "He's human.''

Spitzer, who resigned from the state's top job in 2008 after it was revealed he patronized prostitutes, announced Sunday he would run for comptroller, the city's top financial officer. Spitzer's announcement came less than two months after Anthony Weiner, who resigned from Congress in 2011 after texting lewd photos of himself to women he didn't know, joined the race for mayor. Both men are Democrats and will compete in Sept. 10 primaries.

Spitzer's entry into the race was red meat for the headline writers at New York's tabloids. The Daily News front page Monday read, "Lust For Power.''

Spitzer said Monday "I think the public will have to ask itself the question: Can we forgive him? I've asked for their forgiveness. I hope the public says yes — based upon the record I have, based upon the qualities I can bring to the office — and that's the best that I can do.''

Nicole Killoran, a TV and film producer, said she was ready to move past the scandal. "Personal affairs don't really cloud my judgment … and I don't think New Yorkers are that conservative either." Killoran added, "I'm definitely open to'' voting for Spitzer.

The city comptroller audits New York's municipal finances and also controls the city's pension funds. Spitzer says his experience as an aggressive enforcer of securities law – he was nicknamed "the Sheriff of Wall Street'' when he served as attorney general – will convince voters he should be in charge of the city's $134 billion pension fund. John Liu, the current comptroller, is running for mayor.

Weiner, who planned to run for mayor before his congressional career blew up, is doing well in polls: a Marist/NBC/Wall Street Journal survey June 26 showed him leading the field of nine Democrats. But Spitzer insisted Monday that did not influence his decision to jump into the comptroller's race days before the deadline. New York laws require Spitzer to collect 3,750 signatures by Thursday to win a spot on the ballot.

Another prominent Democrat, Manhattan borough President Scott Stringer, is also running for comptroller and until Spitzer's surprise announcement Monday, had been considered the favorite. Kristin Davis, a former madam who claims to have provided prostitutes to Spitzer, is also running, as a Libertarian Party candidate.

Harry Lirtzman, 57, a retired city worker, said he signed Spitzer's petition partly to give Stringer some competition — and because Spitzer's five years of punditry compared favorably with Weiner's two-year public absence. "I'm willing to take a chance. I think he's a serious guy,'' he said.

"Scott Stringer definitely needs an opponent,'' said lawyer Peter Gleason, 50. "I think if you look at Spitzer, his public service is head and shoulders above the rest.''

Since his resignation, Spitzer has appeared on TV as a host and a pundit, written commentary for the online magazine Slate, published a book and run his family real estate firm. All of this has provided him with enough money to bypass the city's public campaign-finance system.

"I think it's been a productive and important five years,'' Spitzer said. Has he changed? "I hope so.''

Spitzer declined to answer the "What were you thinking?" question about the prostitution scandal. In a memorable news conference with his wife, Silda, standing somberly at his side, Spitzer admitted in 2008 that he was a client of a high-end prostitution ring while governor.

"I'm not here to talk about the personal issues in life,'' Spitzer said Monday. "I'm here to talk about the public issues I have fought for and ask the public for their support. The public should look at the record I have as attorney general and governor and say, here is somebody we want to be the comptroller.''

Kevin Patrick, 42, who works in finance, said Spitzer made serious missteps in his Wall Street investigations. "I think he's self-serving. I think he's a narcissist. I think he should go away.''

But Ken Perlstein, 43, a performance artist whose day job is in marketing, says Spitzer has a lot of experience that could be put to good use. "If he's got the guts to run at this point, along with Weiner, and if he could help the city, then who cares?''

Anthony Grina, for one. The 24-year-old sales rep said Weiner and Spitzer had "discredited'' government and finds it "disheartening" that they're now running again. "There are so many good people in this city, yet we have such a poor selection.''

Contributing: Rebecca Castagna.

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