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BEHIND THE STORY: Year of rumors before the bombshell
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 2/2/7 | Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross

Posted on 02/02/2007 8:40:57 PM PST by SmithL

For more than a year, the affair between San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and the wife of his good friend and campaign manager, Alex Tourk, was a bomb that those around the mayor knew would one day go off.

But it wasn't until last week that the fuse was finally lit, by Tourk's wife herself.

After this week's explosion, people close to the mayor, Tourk and Ruby Rippey-Tourk, revealed what had gone on behind the scenes.

We're told the affair didn't last long -- the mayor has privately said to friends that there were only a couple of encounters. Rumors started making the rounds of City Hall in late 2005, soon after Newsom and Rippey-Tourk were reportedly spotted together in the mayoral town car at a wedding in Napa.

But no firsthand witnesses ever came forward, and the talk receded as Newsom, who was going through a divorce, was spotted with a succession of other women.

The story took on new life last spring when Rippey-Tourk left her job as Newsom's appointments secretary to undergo treatment for alcohol and drug abuse, leaving people to speculate that she had been shipped out before someone started asking questions about her conduct and her relationship with the mayor.

Mayoral staffers and political operatives sensed that they still had a problem on their hands. Several of them, none of whom would speak for attribution, knew that at least some of the rumors were true -- and that, at best, they had just stalled the inevitable.

Perhaps the most amazing thing about the whole story was that it stayed secret as long as it did, without even Alex Tourk knowing about it.

Apparently, colleagues kept it from him in part because they didn't want him hurt.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; US: California
KEYWORDS: anytwosomenewsom; belapelosi; cultureofcorruption; democratethics; democratscandals; democrattakeover; lackofcharacter; sanfranciscovalues
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To: endthematrix

Oh, Ruby!

Don't take your love to town!


21 posted on 02/02/2007 9:33:56 PM PST by SmithL (si vis pacem, para bellum)
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To: SmithL

I'm hoping this affects the dems in all ways.


22 posted on 02/02/2007 9:39:15 PM PST by I_Love_My_Husband (BAY AREA CONSERVATIVES - JON US http://community.livejournal.com/sf_conservative/profile)
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To: SmithL
I had no idea how good looking she was! Granted I would have posted if she was butt-ugly too, but glad it turned out OK!
23 posted on 02/02/2007 9:40:18 PM PST by endthematrix (Both poverty and riches are the offspring of thought.)
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To: SmithL

"in a mayoral towncar." What is this guy's carbon footprint?


24 posted on 02/02/2007 9:56:19 PM PST by Malesherbes
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To: Malesherbes

Check my blog - more news.

Is Gavin the baby daddy of Ruby & Alex's child?

http://community.livejournal.com/sf_conservative/


25 posted on 02/02/2007 10:02:28 PM PST by I_Love_My_Husband (BAY AREA CONSERVATIVES - JON US http://community.livejournal.com/sf_conservative/profile)
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To: SmithL

See my post above ping....check my link.


26 posted on 02/02/2007 10:03:15 PM PST by I_Love_My_Husband (BAY AREA CONSERVATIVES - JON US http://community.livejournal.com/sf_conservative/profile)
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To: SmithL; ValerieUSA
But Tourk still needed an income to pay the mortgage and support the couple's 2-year-old son.
He'd better demand a blood test.
27 posted on 02/02/2007 10:08:31 PM PST by SunkenCiv (I last updated my profile on Wednesday, January 31, 2007. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: I_Love_My_Husband

Dayum!


28 posted on 02/02/2007 10:12:53 PM PST by SmithL (si vis pacem, para bellum)
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To: SmithL

The only amazing thing about this whole article is that there is one Democrat in San Francisco with an ounce of pride and dignity. At least the cuckhold husband quit his job.

However, he must be wondering if his two year old son is his or the mayor's?


29 posted on 02/02/2007 10:29:46 PM PST by daviscupper
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To: Mad_Tom_Rackham

LOL


30 posted on 02/02/2007 10:35:26 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: daviscupper
However, he must be wondering if his two year old son is his or the mayor's?

DNA test, guaranteed.

31 posted on 02/02/2007 10:37:01 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: SmithL

I think the kid looks very much like the Mayor of SF. He certainly does not look like Alex Tourk.

I don't know if he is the spawn of Gavin or not.


32 posted on 02/02/2007 11:23:49 PM PST by I_Love_My_Husband (BAY AREA CONSERVATIVES - JON US http://community.livejournal.com/sf_conservative/profile)
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To: daviscupper

Well, before he quit, he phoned his lawyer to negotiate a deal with the Mayor.

He is on the payroll of the Mayor's re-election campaign but is not doing work for him as part of the package.


33 posted on 02/02/2007 11:25:22 PM PST by I_Love_My_Husband (BAY AREA CONSERVATIVES - JON US http://community.livejournal.com/sf_conservative/profile)
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To: I_Love_My_Husband
From article:

Tourk resolved both to confront the mayor and quit his job as campaign manager. But Tourk still needed an income to pay the mortgage and support the couple's 2-year-old son. He had a sit-down with Steven Kay, a prominent San Francisco attorney, and laid out his problem.

When Newsom returned from Davos, Kay went to City Hall and worked out a settlement: Tourk would resign as campaign manager, but continue to be paid his salary out of Newsom's re-election funds until he could find another job.

34 posted on 02/03/2007 4:59:09 AM PST by Alia
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To: Alia
but continue to be paid his salary out of Newsom's re-election funds

That ought to excite potential donors.

35 posted on 02/03/2007 5:10:44 AM PST by sphinx
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To: SmithL
"Oh, Ruby!

Don't take your love to town!

HAHAHA! I was wondering when that was going to be posted!

36 posted on 02/03/2007 5:44:37 AM PST by libs_kma (Monica blew while Al-Queda grew.....Oh well, Clinton happens!)
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To: sphinx

LOL!!


37 posted on 02/03/2007 6:11:23 AM PST by Alia
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To: endthematrix
Another picture of the bangee.


38 posted on 02/03/2007 6:16:27 AM PST by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: danamco
And yet, some would support Rudolph Giuliani in a presidential bid, his very messy divorce forgotten.
39 posted on 02/03/2007 6:39:44 AM PST by lucysmom
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To: endthematrix

OK, I'd hit it...but then I'd leave.


40 posted on 02/03/2007 7:49:32 AM PST by steve8714
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