SAN FRANCISCO — Capping a surreal 24 hours here, this city's wildly popular mayor publicly apologized Thursday for having had an affair with his campaign manager's wife while she was working for him.
Gavin Newsom delivered a brief and somber \o7mea culpa\f7 at a packed news conference as City Hall employees and voters sought to absorb revelations of the infidelity.
"I want to make it clear that everything you've heard and read is true, and I'm deeply sorry about that," Newsom, 39, said in the two-minute briefing, the day after his campaign manager resigned. "I've hurt someone I care deeply about -- Alex Tourk, and his friends and family. And that is something I have to live with."
Newsom went on to apologize to all city employees, his own family and the residents of San Francisco:
"My personal lapse of judgment aside, I am committed to restoring their trust and confidence.... We will now be working aggressively to advance our agenda in the city."
He took no questions.
Newsom issued his apology after Tourk -- a former deputy chief of staff -- abruptly submitted his resignation late Wednesday, citing "personal" reasons.
Tourk had been one of the mayor's closest advisors and supporters since Newsom's winning 2003 election campaign. He also came up with a signature accomplishment of the Newsom administration that has been emulated nationwide: bimonthly gatherings -- known as Project Homeless Connect -- where thousands of volunteers help direct the homeless to services.
Newsom, who is running for reelection, enjoyed voter approval ratings above 70% as recently as December, but increasingly vocal critics on the Board of Supervisors have complained about what they believe to be his administration's arrogance and disengagement from day-to-day city business.
The affair between Newsom and Ruby Rippey-Tourk reportedly took place when Newsom was splitting from his then-wife, attorney and television analyst Kimberly Guilfoyle. Newsom and Guilfoyle filed for divorce in January 2005.
Rumors of the affair had long swirled around City Hall. But sources said Rippey-Tourk only admitted the infidelity to her husband last weekend.
Tourk's departure is a blow to Newsom and his team.
"Alex Tourk is one of the few people in politics who helps put together the big idea and then keeps his shoulder on the wheel throughout implementation," said political consultant Alex Clemens. "He's an excellent person to have in your foxhole. Everyone who knows him feels really bad for him."
