New York City

Putting prostitution scandal behind him, Spitzer enters race for comptroller

July 8, 2013 With the Associated Press
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Disgraced Gov. Eliot Spitzer is planning a return to political life with a run for New York City comptroller, Spitzer told the New York Times on Sunday. Spitzer, a Democrat, quit the governor’s office in 2008 over a prostitution scandal.

He joins another sex-scared pol, former Brooklyn Rep. Anthony Weiner, in the city’s primary election, with Weiner — who quit Congress amid a scandal over his inappropriate tweets two years ago — running for mayor.

Spitzer has spoken in the past about the potential for the comptroller’s job to look into corporate misdeeds. That would be similar to what he did as the state’s attorney general.

Candidates for citywide offices like comptroller have to have 3,750 signatures from registered voters in their party by Thursday.

In speaking to the Times, Spitzer said he hoped city voters would give him a chance.

“I’m hopeful there will be forgiveness, I am asking for it,” the Democrat said.

Current Comptroller John Liu is running for mayor.

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer has been the most prominent among the contenders to become New York City’s next fiscal chief. He’s raised more than $3.5 million and spent about $566,000, city campaign finance records show, while his opponents have yet to report any fund-raising or spending.

They include Republican John Burnett, who has worked on Wall Street in various finance capacities and just recently declared his candidacy; Green Party candidate Juila Willebrand, a former teacher; and former madam Kristin Davis.

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