Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, who resigned from office after a prostitution scandal five years ago, is ending his television career and making an attempt at a political comeback. Spitzer announced that he is running for New York City Comptroller and is asking for voters’ forgiveness.
The 54-year-old Spitzer was seen as a rising star on the national political scene, as he rose from New York attorney general to governor. But in March 2008, it all came crashing down when he became the center of a prostitution scandal just over two years after his first term began.
“I strayed, I erred, I violated a code of behavior that I should not have and the public understands what I’m saying,” Spitzer told Bloomberg in a phone interview. “I have learned that the peaks of public life are great fun, but the valleys are much more instructive. They force you to look into your soul.”
He gave a similar statement to the New York Times, saying that he is “hopeful there will be forgiveness, I am asking for it.”
The Times notes that Spitzer’s announcement comes while Anthony Weiner - another New york politician once disgraced by a lewd scandal - is running for mayor of the city. Weiner has won public support, but Spitzer said that his decision was not influenced by the response Weiner has received. He told the times that people ask him all the time about when he will return to politics.
As attorney general, Spitzer was known for going after Wall Street. As comptroller, he hopes to bring attention to an office often ignored. The office is the city’s financial officer. He has until Thursday to turn in a collection of 3,750 signatures to qualify for September’s primary.
During his time out of politics, Spitzer worked for CNN, Current and NY1 as a political commentator.
image: Wikimedia Commons
