Ruby Tourk from her Facebook page
The woman at the center of the scandal that rocked San Francisco City Hall six months ago is writing a book. On February 1st, Mayor Gavin Newsom held a news conference to admit he had an affair with one of his employees, Appointments Secretary Ruby Rippey-Tourk. She was also the wife of his close friend and trusted adviser at the time, Alex Tourk. Newsom apologized during that news conference, and four days later, announced he was getting counseling for alcohol problems.
Now, the I-Team has learned Ruby Tourk has written at least two chapters of a self-help book, and is shopping the project to local publishers. Sources say Tourk writes about “hitting rock bottom with Newsom after 20 years of alcoholism and coke use”, and that she hopes to use the mayor’s name recognition to sell books.
In the first two chapters, sources say Tourk “seems to have gone out of her way to not say anything bad about him.” The book, at least so far, is apparently focused on her own conduct and not that of the mayor.
Ruby Tourk sent an e-mail to the I-Team this weekend, declining to comment on the book project: “I hope you understand my decision not to talk right now. I'll let you know if my situation changes...”
The I-Team reached Newsom's chief political adviser Eric Jaye late today. Referring to the book, he said, “I’ll order it. I wouldn’t stand in line for Harry Potter, but I’ll stand in line for that.” Jaye downplayed any possible impact on Gavin Newsom’s campaign for re-election. He said possible contender “Matt Gonzalez and (political consultant) Jack Davis will try to make it an issue, but I don’t think it’s an issue.” Jaye added that Ruby Tourk writing a self-help book is “a laudable thing. … She’s a kind person who is rebuilding her life.”
By the way, Alex Tourk resigned from the Newsom Campaign for Mayor, just before the scandal became public. This evening, he’s holding an open house for his new business, Ground Floor Public Affairs.
anything to make a buck.....
Posted by: popo | July 30, 2007 at 07:19 PM
her cocaine use? what about Gavin Newsom's? Birds of a feather, flock together!
Posted by: deep throat | July 30, 2007 at 08:29 PM
Hasn't this woman done enough to her husband and her child. She betrayed her husband in the worse way so did Mayor Newsom. But right now I'm focusing on the wife she betrayed her marraige, husband, child, and now she is planning on doing it all over again by writing some sleazy book that she is passing off as a self-help book. GIVE ME A DAMN BREAK. This B*******ch all to be a shame of her self, now her husband has to relive the drama all over again.I am one person who will not be rushing to buy her book, and shame on anyone that will buy this harlot trashy book.God created the institution of marriage and its women like her that is destroying the fabric of it. Anything for a buck, and I do meany anything.
Posted by: Dommonie | July 30, 2007 at 08:39 PM
Last time I saw Alex Tourk, he didn't have a wedding ring on, so maybe he gave Ruby her walking papers??
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Posted by: Hank Essay | July 31, 2007 at 12:51 AM
And yet Daly got whomped over this issue.
Posted by: Jerry Jarvis | July 31, 2007 at 01:31 AM
I hope she trashes the sleazy low life!
Posted by: Ben Johnson | July 31, 2007 at 12:07 PM
what a joke !
Posted by: Vikitoria | July 31, 2007 at 02:13 PM
It's about time. This woman has remained silent and stoic while gavin and Alex get all the press and good attention. It's her turn. I think she's brave to come forward and share her story of addiction. Not many people have the balls to do that. go ruby!
Posted by: joliejean | August 01, 2007 at 11:45 AM
I'm with you, JolieJean. Takes guts to let it all hang out. That is apparebtly a trait a lot of powerful people lack.
Posted by: Robert | August 01, 2007 at 02:00 PM
Did you all see Ken Garcia's article in the Examiner on Ruby's book? Inteesting. Seems more like a swipe at Dan than anything else. My guess is there really are a couple of chapters floating around that she used to shop publishers before she changed her mind. More to Garcia's article than meets the eye.
Posted by: Robert | August 03, 2007 at 12:07 PM
I hope she exposes the sleazy, mean spirited, incompetent, sick Newsom administration.
Posted by: xirxes | August 05, 2007 at 10:39 PM
everyone got a goodie in this deal:
-mayor got to drink on the job, have fun with a city employee, and pay taxpayer money to fund her 'rehab"
-hubby got cuckolded, but then got lots of wealthy clients and lots and lots of "support" from the permanent class of bureuacrats, consultants, lobbyists and other parasites of tax dollars
-and dear ruby gets to sit and look pretty, parade around her alleged "sobriety" and be free of the responsiblities of being a mom or a wife and party it up, with jamba juice in hand, and write a "book" that will surely be bought in lots of 100 by said parasites.
there is no more moral behavior, it's all relative, if you can make a buck off it, or if you're connected, you can do what you want. if not, tough toodles.
Posted by: uncle miltie | August 27, 2007 at 04:16 PM
Did you see Gavin Newsom's new campaign slogan?
http://wcvarones.blogspot.com/2007/09/unconventional-campaign.html
Posted by: W.C. Varones | September 03, 2007 at 04:19 PM
I like this comment: "-hubby got cuckolded, but then got lots of wealthy clients and lots and lots of "support" from the permanent class of bureuacrats, consultants, lobbyists and other parasites of tax dollars..." is very interesting!!!
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