Nothing on Gavin Newsom's big scandal?

[amber]

I'm suprised. He just had a big thing where he slept with his...campaign/office aid's wife, in the midst of his divorce. She revealed it as a part of some rehab thing she did recently. No, I don't know which drug.
But a "guy on the street" that they interview for the paper said it best: "He's so hot, of course everyone wants to sleep with him!!" :laugh:
Nevertheless, some people are predicting a darkening of his political future, which I find disturbing, as he is one of the most forethinking, innovative, and sincere politicians I have come across in a very long time. Including Obama. His stance on gay marriage, and a bunch of other things - well, I love him. Also, other people interviewed for "man on the street" said it wouldn't affect their vote for him, as they have not seen a better candidate. Also, Dianne Feinstein said she still supported him, though without excusing what he did. But still, she said he has so much potential, blah blah, and people make mistakes.

I really agree. His political problem solving, gumption, etc., whatever, by far trumps some chick he banged who was his secretary and his campaign worker's wife.
Okay, that is bad, and shows some slickness, but I really find it hard to care that much considering his record. I mean, c'mon, he's working on bringing WiFi to the whole SF area for free. Free internet for everyone. In addition to so much more.
Plus, he's a Libra, and good looking to boot, I kind of expect this type of thing. Libras are invariably slick and extra charming, and often very innovative and able to balance many viewpoints, and they almost always communicate well with others (the public).

Although he should definitely pick non married people to bang. :p For shame.

Dude, the fact that he fricking went against state law to allow gay marriages, and also came up with a whole new paradigm for homelessness - so much more important than some random chick he slept with.

I feel like I haven't seen anyone with such big balls in a long time.

"Newsome's Uncertain Political Future"
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/02/02/MNGHNNTLHV1.DTL

"Newsome Does Damage Control"
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/02/02/MNGHNNTN2N1.DTL

P.S. - If I ever met him, I'm pretty sure I would sleep with him given the chance. lol. Seriously, he is way too hot.

[gldstwmn]

Gavin's a hot guy. He screws around. That's probably what killed his marriage to Kimberly Gilfoyle. Nobody's perfect. :shrug:
The whole mission of Libras in this life is to learn how to be committed or so one of my favorite astrologers told me.
This won't even make a dent in his political career.

[irishgrl]

This won't even make a dent in his political career.

That remains to be seen actually....I wonder how he would appeal to the rest of the country, not just rabid CA fans :shrug: I admire the man and I never thot that a person's bedroom antics should derail their political career (Bill Clinton anyone?) but I dont think he's broken the State barrier yet. More's the pity.

[GODDESS6]

it made our local news & papers here in omaha~

[irishgrl]

GODDESS, Im referring to his potential political career beyond Mayor of San Francisco, not his scandal. Im not surprised theres mention of his sexual escapades, this country is inordinately fond of smut, all protestations to the contrary notwithstanding.

[BlackWidow]

he will continue to be fine..in bed and outta bed.

[gldstwmn]

That remains to be seen actually....I wonder how he would appeal to the rest of the country, not just rabid CA fans :shrug: I admire the man and I never thot that a person's bedroom antics should derail their political career (Bill Clinton anyone?) but I dont think he's broken the State barrier yet. More's the pity.

I think people are so over getting into people's bedroom business that it won't be a problem.
He's young. Give him time. He'll be a major player down the road.

[amber]

I think people are so over getting into people's bedroom business that it won't be a problem.
He's young. Give him time. He'll be a major player down the road.

I hope you are right, but some of the articles about him have me worried. they say "oh, this is okay here, with our san francisco values, but it won't play nationally, in the bible belt, blah blah".
Meh. I wish that were the only "bad" thing that politicians did. :rolleyes:

I could see "committing" as being a Libra's mission...does seem difficult for many of them in one way or another. :p

[Johnny Stew]

I hope you are right, but some of the articles about him have me worried. they say "oh, this is okay here, with our san francisco values, but it won't play nationally, in the bible belt, blah blah".Which is pure hypocrisy on their part, since there have been countless Republican politicians who have married and divorced multiple times, and have had affairs that were eventually exposed.

And, hell, it could have been worse... Newsom could've been an anti-gay marriage, "family values" rhetoric-spouting Conservative, who was secretly engaging underage boys in cyber-sex!

[amber]

Which is pure hypocrisy on their part, since there have been countless Republican politicians who have married and divorced multiple times, and have had affairs that were eventually exposed.

And, hell, it could have been worse... Newsom could've been an anti-gay marriage, "family values" rhetoric-spouting Conservative, who was secretly engaging underage boys in cyber-sex!

Yes, exactly what I was thinking when i wrote that. :laugh: you never know if those red states will care about the corruption when Repubs do it, though. :shocked:

[BombaySapphire3]

Gavin kind of has that Kennedy type vibe about him ..he'll most likely survive this unless there is way more that hasn't come to light yet.On a national level his allowing gay marriage in the City will be more damaging..all those Bush states uh or maybe former Bush states.:laugh:

[amber]

Gavin kind of has that Kennedy type vibe about him ..he'll most likely survive this unless there is way more that hasn't come to light yet.On a national level his allowing gay marriage in the City will be more damaging..all those Bush states uh or maybe former Bush states.:laugh:

I wonder about on a state level? And I suspect that any other things that "come to light" will just be more of a similar nature. Did you see the articles when he was dating that almost 21 year old? :laugh: :rolleyes: He could date so many people, hopefully he'll keep it in his pants with the marrieds.

[Für Elise]

I'm suprised. He just had a big thing where he slept with his...campaign/office aid's wife, in the midst of his divorce. She revealed it as a part of some rehab thing she did recently. No, I don't know which drug.
But a "guy on the street" that they interview for the paper said it best: "He's so hot, of course everyone wants to sleep with him!!" :laugh:
Nevertheless, some people are predicting a darkening of his political future, which I find disturbing, as he is one of the most forethinking, innovative, and sincere politicians I have come across in a very long time. Including Obama. His stance on gay marriage, and a bunch of other things - well, I love him. Also, other people interviewed for "man on the street" said it wouldn't affect their vote for him, as they have not seen a better candidate. Also, Dianne Feinstein said she still supported him, though without excusing what he did. But still, she said he has so much potential, blah blah, and people make mistakes.

I really agree. His political problem solving, gumption, etc., whatever, by far trumps some chick he banged who was his secretary and his campaign worker's wife.
Okay, that is bad, and shows some slickness, but I really find it hard to care that much considering his record. I mean, c'mon, he's working on bringing WiFi to the whole SF area for free. Free internet for everyone. In addition to so much more.
Plus, he's a Libra, and good looking to boot, I kind of expect this type of thing. Libras are invariably slick and extra charming, and often very innovative and able to balance many viewpoints, and they almost always communicate well with others (the public). I don't really get what his star sign has to do with anything. People of all star signs have affairs. Nobody really believes that the date of someone's birth could help predict there behaviour do they?

[Rickypt]

I will weigh in!

I am no big Gavin Newsom fan. I didn't like him when he was on the Board of Supervisors, as I felt he scapegoated homeless people to further his political career. I campaigned hard against him.

Then he did the gay marriage thing and I chilled out. Even further, he walked the picket line for striking hotel workers and I REALLY chilled out. The gay marriage thing was big for people outside SF. Inside SF, we knew it was a political stunt to consolidate power (many gay people opposed Gavin for Mayor). It was safe. San Franciscans would love him. And eventually the courts struck the whole thing down, which we all knew would happen. However, I admired that for once a straight politician would go out on a limb nationally and support full equality.

After all of that, he has been a crappy Mayor. Crime is way up, he accused all cable operators of being crooks, and he has really done very little except run around and try to be on TV.

Enter latest scandal. I don't care who he sleeps with. None of any of our business. So it's actually not a scandal. The man deserves to have a personal life, and I won't judge his job as Mayor based on that.

However, I think it is totally scummy to sleep with your friend's wife. And not just a friend, but someone who gave up a professional career to serve as your aide and campaign manager. I actually know Alex Tourk. He is a hell of a guy and not deserving of this backstabbing.

So, bottom line. None of this factors into my feeling about Gavin as Mayor. But Gavin as a human being---he is a tacky, tacky man. And all the gay guys running around saying "he's hot, who cares"....well, last time I checked, decency and honor were still values that mean something.

[gldstwmn]

I don't really get what his star sign has to do with anything. People of all star signs have affairs. Nobody really believes that the date of someone's birth could help predict there behaviour do they?

Can you prove that it doesn't?

[gldstwmn]

I will weigh in!

I am no big Gavin Newsom fan. I didn't like him when he was on the Board of Supervisors, as I felt he scapegoated homeless people to further his political career. I campaigned hard against him.

Then he did the gay marriage thing and I chilled out. Even further, he walked the picket line for striking hotel workers and I REALLY chilled out. The gay marriage thing was big for people outside SF. Inside SF, we knew it was a political stunt to consolidate power (many gay people opposed Gavin for Mayor). It was safe. San Franciscans would love him. And eventually the courts struck the whole thing down, which we all knew would happen. However, I admired that for once a straight politician would go out on a limb nationally and support full equality.

After all of that, he has been a crappy Mayor. Crime is way up, he accused all cable operators of being crooks, and he has really done very little except run around and try to be on TV.

Enter latest scandal. I don't care who he sleeps with. None of any of our business. So it's actually not a scandal. The man deserves to have a personal life, and I won't judge his job as Mayor based on that.

However, I think it is totally scummy to sleep with your friend's wife. And not just a friend, but someone who gave up a professional career to serve as your aide and campaign manager. I actually know Alex Tourk. He is a hell of a guy and not deserving of this backstabbing.

So, bottom line. None of this factors into my feeling about Gavin as Mayor. But Gavin as a human being---he is a tacky, tacky man. And all the gay guys running around saying "he's hot, who cares"....well, last time I checked, decency and honor were still values that mean something.

Wow. Thanks for the insight. It's hard to know what a politician is like from the national press.

[Für Elise]

Can you prove that it doesn't?no, and I can't prove that pluto isn't home to flying unicorns either but I don't believe it is. I was due to be born in january but because of complex reasons was born in december. Do you really think you could know me and my personality better by knowing that I was born in december?

[gldstwmn]

no, and I can't prove that pluto isn't home to flying unicorns either but I don't believe it is. I was due to be born in january but because of complex reasons was born in december. Do you really think you could know me and my personality better by knowing that I was born in december?

What a coincidence. I was due in January but my mother was 45 when she had me and went into early labor in December.
I can't glean anything knowing your were born in December but I might be able to glean certain things from you natal chart.
Did you know that in the middle ages most practicing physicians were also astrologers?

[Für Elise]

What a coincidence. I was due in January but my mother was 45 when she had me and went into early labor in December.
I can't glean anything knowing your were born in December but I might be able to glean certain things from you natal chart.
Did you know that in the middle ages most practicing physicians were also astrologers?I didn't know that but I can believe it.

That is a coincidence. I was due on the 8th of january but was born exactly a month earlier. I just don't believe in that kind of stuff though.

[Rickypt]

I wonder about on a state level? And I suspect that any other things that "come to light" will just be more of a similar nature. Did you see the articles when he was dating that almost 21 year old? :laugh: :rolleyes: He could date so many people, hopefully he'll keep it in his pants with the marrieds.

I think Gavin is done. He will probably be reelected as Mayor, although I hear a few big name challengers will be taking him on now that he is seen as vulnerable.

His goal was to become Governor or Senator and he will not be elected statewide. People overlook affairs these days, but they don't overlook things like stabbing your good friend and loyal campaign manager in the back. I read that this is a "guy" thing. Women don't seem to think the Newsom "scandal" is a big deal because they don't expect better from men, but guys have this thing about how you don't stab a friend.

Newsom has only himself and his hubris to blame. He was rockstar and a shining light in the Democratic Party, even though I never totally liked him.

[Rickypt]

Wow. Thanks for the insight. It's hard to know what a politician is like from the national press.

Newsom did a spectacular thing with the gay marriages and if I lived outside SF, I'd be a huge fan. And many people in SF love him as well. I have to evaluate him as Mayor, though, not social change architect. And I find him to be all talk and very little action.

He's a hypocrite: when the courts and Board of Supervisors tried to stop his "Care Not Cash" initiative that was approved by the voters, he squawked about the need implement the will of the people. Last year, the voters approved an initiative calling on him to attend Board meetings on a monthly basis to face questions from Supervisors. He has refused, and instead holding his own scripted "town hall" meetings in different neighborhoods. You can't have it both ways; the will of the voters is the will of the voters.

And a couple of weeks ago, he skipped the very important Conference of Mayors meeting in DC (where they work to get a national agenda for cities and lobby for more money) in order to go to an economic meeting in Switzerland. He shows very little interest in being Mayor and it is clear he is all about himself, his political career, and I guess his penis. :laugh:

[gldstwmn]

I didn't know that but I can believe it.

That is a coincidence. I was due on the 8th of january but was born exactly a month earlier. I just don't believe in that kind of stuff though.

That's okay. :shrug: You're entitled to your beliefs or whatever gets you through the night and day, IMO.

[gldstwmn]

Newsom did a spectacular thing with the gay marriages and if I lived outside SF, I'd be a huge fan.

That took some balls but I suppose he knew or at least suspected it would be struck down in court. Is he a lawyer by trade?


And a couple of weeks ago, he skipped the very important Conference of Mayors meeting in DC (where they work to get a national agenda for cities and lobby for more money) in order to go to an economic meeting in Switzerland. :

That would certainly raise my eyebrows. Swiss banks are the most discreet. What the hell was he doing there?


He shows very little interest in being Mayor and it is clear he is all about himself, his political career, and I guess his penis. :laugh:

There are many of you wonderful men out there but let's face it. Those characteristics are not uncommon to politicians or men. :laugh: Still it's disappointing. :(

[Rickypt]

That took some balls but I suppose he knew or at least suspected it would be struck down in court. Is he a lawyer by trade?

No, he's a businessman. But I'm sure it was all sketched out in advance and he knew it would go nowhere. It was really a quite easy thing for him to do, in my opinion, but it was notable for having a straight politician of his stature making such a bold statement. I'm so used to politicians throwing us in a river for their own advantage that it was refreshing and very moving.

That would certainly raise my eyebrows. Swiss banks are the most discreet. What the hell was he doing there?

Skiing and hanging out with one of his gazillion blond girlfriends. And, he is a total policy wonk and I believe it is a meeting that addresses cutting-edge policy issues. Which is fine, but I expect our Mayor to go to the national Mayor's conference before that.

[amber]

I think Gavin is done. He will probably be reelected as Mayor, although I hear a few big name challengers will be taking him on now that he is seen as vulnerable.

His goal was to become Governor or Senator and he will not be elected statewide. People overlook affairs these days, but they don't overlook things like stabbing your good friend and loyal campaign manager in the back. I read that this is a "guy" thing. Women don't seem to think the Newsom "scandal" is a big deal because they don't expect better from men, but guys have this thing about how you don't stab a friend.

Newsom has only himself and his hubris to blame. He was rockstar and a shining light in the Democratic Party, even though I never totally liked him.

I hope that isn't true. And I disagree with your assessments of him. ;) I mean, not with the facts parts, but the interpretations. For instance, the fact that crime is up in the city? Not his fault. That's like saying Clinton is responsible for the economic boom during his presidency.
As of now, I think he is better than your assessment.

[irishgrl]

That's like saying Clinton is responsible for the economic boom during his presidency.
to a large extent he IS. if it werent that he understood economics so well and interacted very closely (and very successfully I might add) with Greenspan, I think we could have very easily seen a different economy. Look at how Bushmonkey has mismanaged the SURPLUS he was given? I mean come ON!
even if you swallow Jason's codswallop whole and you subscribe to the whole "it was bound to happen it was all based on smoke and mirrors", that still doesnt excuse the fact that Bush wasted BILLIONS of dollars on a sham war, continued to pander to the rich while punishing the poor and creating in general a recipe for economic disaster. A PRUDENT financial steward would have done things differently--as in MORE LIKE CLINTON.

[Rickypt]

For instance, the fact that crime is up in the city? Not his fault.

Not entirely his fault, but if can't be held responsible, who can? He continues to support our really bad police chief and many communities suffering sharp increase in murders (lower Haight, for example) are screaming that there isn't enough attention to their neighborhoods (i.e., police foot patrols, etc.).

I guess I'll ask you (in a very friendly way of course, I don't feel that strongly about him either way):

What do you feel he has done well? Are there specific things or just more of a feeling like the city is improving/doing well?

[irishgrl]

Not entirely his fault, but if can't be held responsible, who can? He continues to support our really bad police chief and many communities suffering sharp increase in murders (lower Haight, for example) are screaming that there isn't enough attention to their neighborhoods (i.e., police foot patrols, etc.).

I guess I'll ask you (in a very friendly way of course, I don't feel that strongly about him either way):

What do you feel he has done well? Are there specific things or just more of a feeling like the city is improving/doing well?

maybe she's just enchanted by his pretty face :shrug:
right now, I see him as a big fish in a little pond. I dont forsee him ever breaking into the big time. I could be wrong, but I just dont think so. Of course, time will tell...

[Rickypt]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/05/BAG4ENV8B514.DTL

02-05) 16:37 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom told department heads this afternoon he is seeking counseling for alcohol abuse, sources familiar with the meeting told The Chronicle.

Newsom told members of his administration that the help he is seeking would not require him to step aside even temporarily as it might if he entered a residential rehabilitation program, according to the sources.

The move follows the revelation last week that Newsom had a sexual affair with an employee of his office, Ruby Rippey-Tourk, who also is the wife of one of his former top political aides, Alex Tourk. Tourk, the mayor's former deputy chief of staff, resigned as Newsom's re-election campaign manager last week after confronting Newsom about the affair.

The mayor admitted the affair Thursday and apologized to Tourk, his friends and family and the residents of San Francisco. He has since declined to say anything about the scandal and has stated repeatedly that he wants to get back to work.

Newsom's alcohol use became an embarrassment for the mayor after witnesses reported he appeared to have been drinking prior to arriving at San Francisco General Hospital in December after learning a police officer had been shot.

He also faced scrutiny late last year for bringing a then 20-year-old woman out on dates, where she was reportedly seen drinking what appeared to be alcohol.

Newsom made the decision after meeting with friends and family over the weekend. He delivered the news this afternoon to department heads.

"He told us that he was going to stop drinking and would seek treatment -- that's about all he said,'' said one person who was at today's meeting.

"It was very heartfelt," said the attendee, who asked not to be named because he was not cleared to discuss the matter publicly. "It was also clear that he wasn't taking a leave from the office."

Newsom's chief political adviser, Eric Jaye, said, "Let's make it clear (the mayor) is not blaming alcohol for his bad behavior.

"This is not some kind of public mea culpa,'' Jaye said. "He understands that he has a problem."

Jaye said the counseling would be done by Mimi Silbert, head of San Francisco's famous Delancey Street Foundation.

"It's true,'' Silbert said. "I don't know if I would use the word 'counseling,' but I will be helping the mayor."

Silbert said Newsom had contacted her Saturday about getting help.

"No one comes to me or Delancey Street for any kind of help unless they are deadly serious," Silbert said. "We are no lightweight or B.S. program."

Silbert said she didn't expect the mayor to move into the group's Embarcadero building.

[strandinthewind]

What a fukcing heel - I HATE when they play the "I AM NOT GUILTY BECAUSE I AM A DRUNK" card - it gives alcohol a bad name :laugh:

[gldstwmn]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/05/BAG4ENV8B514.DTL

02-05) 16:37 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom told department heads this afternoon he is seeking counseling for alcohol abuse, sources familiar with the meeting told The Chronicle.



Oh cripes. Is this the new thing now? If he has a legitimate problem then I certainly wish him well.

[amber]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/05/BAG4ENV8B514.DTL

02-05) 16:37 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom told department heads this afternoon he is seeking counseling for alcohol abuse, sources familiar with the meeting told The Chronicle.

.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Lame.
But also, damn. Now I have no hope of somehow meeting him out and taking drunken advantage of him.
He probably does drink too much, though. I mean, if you are mayor, you shouldn't really drink hardly at all.

[Rickypt]

^^something tells me Gavin's going to work on alcohol moderation and not abstinence. He owns a winery, for godsakes, doesn't he?

I have long suspected some alcohol problems. He has been seen in public quite drunk and I wonder if his noticeable declining attention to his job in the last year or so is due to hangovers.

I'm always weary of the immediate check-in to rehab whenever caught doing something, but he probably could use some help if he wants to continue his political career.

[Rickypt]

BTW, I do not get the Gavin attraction one bit. He is certainly more handsome than your average politician, but that hair is absurd!

[gldstwmn]

BTW, I do not get the Gavin attraction one bit. He is certainly more handsome than your average politician, but that hair is absurd!

Maybe when he gets sober he'll be able to see himself more clearly in the mirror in the morning and fix it. :o

[amber]

BTW, I do not get the Gavin attraction one bit. He is certainly more handsome than your average politician, but that hair is absurd!

I don't get it. What's absurd about it? It looks better than most people's hair that I see. It's all dark and thick. :confused:

[Rickypt]

I don't get it. What's absurd about it? It looks better than most people's hair that I see. It's all dark and thick. :confused:

It's totally gelled and slicked back. Yuk.

[amber]

It's totally gelled and slicked back. Yuk.

I think it is so thick and lustrous that he has to do that. Besides, he's the mayor, he can't really sport the coolest new gay guy spikey front hairdo. :p He has to have politician/dracula hair. :laugh:

[amber]

New articles today. They shed some light that Gavin has had a problem for awhile, according to some close to him. It started when his wife moved across country, apparently. But the best part of the article was about how Gavin was working in meetings with PG&E today to ostensibly make SF the greenest city. Which makes me not care even more than I didn't care before about his indiscretion. And I didn't care before because I have seen him trying, or doing, good green things before. As we all know, that is mainly what I care about. That and gay rights and things for poor people. Which is what he cares about. Or says he does. He made that rule about Safeway not double bagging b/c of the massive fill up of landfills by plastic baggage. I'm not sure of it's success, but to me, it was a big step.

I don't doubt his sincerity at all, but of course politics being what it is, I unfortunately doubt his ability to get the things done that he wants, but not through his fault, through the fault of beaurocracy and politics. Like, his thing for free WiFi for the entire city - what that does, in theory, is democratizes information, so that everyone has equal access to it, poor and rich. Of course, poor people still have to get computers, but still. I love it. That is what true equality is about, the democratization of information.
And at first I heard bad things about his homeless plan, but when i actually researched what the plan entailed, I approved, very much. At least with the info I had.

Also, I am glad he told Board of Supervisor ahole in a meeting today that he would not be resigning (guy called for him to resign. He is at odds with the board, so I am not suprised. In politics, people take any chance to unseat those they disagree with, see Clinton/Monica. Impeachment hearings, plz. PLZ!!!)

He can sleep with whoever he wants if he gets some real environmental things done, imo. If he can help this, SF, one of the very dirtiest cities/water, become greener, bless his soul. The other is just sex, this is The World and all life forms on it. Call me "immoral" but then I will have to call into question your definition of morality. ;) Sex is natural, marriage is a man made construct. Okay, I know. You still shouldn't sleep with you're friend's wife. But I'm sure we've all "had a few" and slept with someone we shouldn't have. Also one of these articles say he is trying and said he would find a way to pay Tourk until he finds another job, even though he is no longer employed. They are having legal problems with that, now, but I hope they work it out. Tourk got $15,000/mo. for his job, they are finding trouble making paying him out of campaign funds legal. As a sidenote, how do I get this well paying job???:p $15,000 a month?!? I would die. I would be so rich. I would have so much money I wouldn't know what to do with it!
Okay, money envy part over. :laugh:

HOW NEWSOM DECIDED TO SEEK HELP
BACK TO WORK: He tries to focus on job, announces 2 environmental initiatives

"San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom sought to get back to the business of governing on Tuesday, trumpeting a pair of environmental initiatives that are part of his push to make San Francisco the "greenest" city in the world.

But behind the scenes and all around him, the fallout from the recent revelations -- of an affair with a staff member married to a top aide and a decision to seek treatment for alcohol abuse -- continued unabated.

The mayor held a tense and "not very productive" closed-door meeting with the first elected official to call for his resignation, Supervisor Jake McGoldrick, according to the supervisor.

Officials of Newsom's re-election campaign were trying to find a legal way to make good on a pledge to keep paying former campaign manager Alex Tourk, who resigned last week after confronting the mayor over his affair with Tourk's wife.

And the mayor received a public vote of confidence from ally Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein about his announced decision to seek help for a drinking problem.

"I think the mayor will solve his problem, and I wish him well," Feinstein said Tuesday, adding that she'd spoken directly with the mayor about the issue. "I intend to continue to work with him in any way I can. He will see this thing through OK."

Newsom's only public appearance was at the Academy of Art College on New Montgomery Street to promote a new energy-saving initiative. Arriving in his black town car and seeing a throng of news media members, Newsom shook his head and sarcastically told an aide, "I never knew they were so interested in this issue!"

Newsom went inside to discuss "Energy Watch" -- a partnership between the city and Pacific Gas and Electric Co. -- which he said will cost $11.5 million, most of it coming from PG&E.

The city will use the money to hire independent contractors to give free advice to owners of businesses and apartment buildings on how they can save energy. The contractors also will install the recommended energy-efficient equipment at a reduced cost.

Newsom also announced Tuesday that he has asked the city attorney to draft legislation barring commercial buildings from using old fluorescent lighting tubes and requiring them to instead install slimmer, more energy-efficient tubes.

"We've done more than anybody else, but we're playing in the margins," Newsom said of the city's Earth-friendly undertakings at the art college. "We've got a lot of plans, and I don't have much more time."

If Newsom is re-elected in November, he will have almost five more years in office.

Toward the end of the press conference, a spokeswoman for Newsom slipped him a yellow note telling him he could make his exit through a back door to "avoid the press scrum." Newsom read it and shrugged his shoulders as if to ask what good that would do.

He left through the front entrance and appeared frustrated by the attention paid by the media to his affair and alcohol use. One reporter asked him if he would ever talk further about those issues, and he replied, "You've taken liberty with the question."

Back at City Hall, Newsom met with McGoldrick, a political foe on the Board of Supervisors who had called Monday for the mayor to resign, according to McGoldrick and the mayor's press secretary, Peter Ragone.

"It was not very productive," McGoldrick said. "He expressed anger that I was asking him to resign. He felt that I was picking on him. I felt that someone should be tough and say the emperor has no clothes."

McGoldrick said he got the meeting with the mayor only after asking for it repeatedly on Monday. But the two men failed to settle their differences during the 10-minute session.

"He said he felt that I was kicking him while he was down," McGoldrick said. "I said, 'The problem is you are portraying yourself as the victim.' He said, 'I'm asking for forgiveness.' I said, 'You're asking for forgetfulness.' He said, 'I'm not going to resign.' "

Also on Tuesday, Newsom's campaign lawyer, Jim Sutton, was trying to determine whether it would be legal to pay Tourk out of Newsom's campaign fund, according to Eric Jaye, Newsom's chief political strategist.

On Friday, The Chronicle reported that a lawyer for Tourk had gone to City Hall to work out an agreement with the mayor under which Tourk would continue to be paid out of the re-election campaign account after resigning as campaign manager while he looked for another job.

But, since then, John St. Croix, director of the city's Ethics Commission, which enforces campaign finance laws, said it isn't legal to pay somebody not to work out of campaign funds -- unless there was an employment contract signed in advance calling for such a severance package.

Tourk "left through no fault of his own and has a mortgage and a child to take care of," Jaye said, referring to Tourk's decision to quit after learning of Newsom's affair with his wife, Ruby Rippey-Tourk. At the time of the affair, Rippey-Tourk was Newsom's appointments secretary, and Tourk was his deputy chief of staff. He later went on to manage the Newsom re-election campaign.

"He hasn't been paid yet ... he won't be paid until we figure it out," Jaye said, noting that Tourk has earned $15,000 monthly as campaign manager since September.

Tourk declined to comment directly. A spokesman for him, Sam Singer, said Tourk has an agreement with Newsom that he will be paid until he finds a job.

The Board of Supervisors held its first regular meeting on Tuesday since news of the sex scandal broke.

Many of Newsom's political adversaries on the board have said for months that he is his own worst political enemy -- but had little to say about the mayor's conduct in the legislative chambers.

The only words were a quip from Supervisor Tom Ammiano about the mayor's announced plans to seek treatment for alcohol abuse from Mimi Silbert of the Delancey Street Foundation.

Ammiano was initially poking fun at new Supervisor Ed Jew, who had had difficulty getting his microphone to function during past meetings.

"I want to congratulate Supervisor Jew in having his microphone working," Ammiano said. "You see it's every little step -- not 12 steps. All right."

Eff you, Ammiano. There are other articles about this same subject from different slants, in today's SF Chron. The other one I read was more about his drinking thing, how he would go to such and such after work, and have glasses of white wine, basically starting after his ex wife moved across the country.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/02/07/MNGR1O07N91.DTL

[Rickypt]

I think the way the SF Chronicle is overdoing this story and the reaction from petty Board of Supes is pretty atrocious. And making me sympathetic towards Gavin, which is pretty funny.

And I've got MAJOR dirt on Ammiano, so he is the last person who should be acting moralistic.