DOESN'T HE GET POINTS FOR NOT BAGGING THE OTHER SPOUSE AND/OR THE DOG?:

S.F. Mayor Gavin Newsom apologizes for affair with wife of key aide (Mary Anne Ostrom, 2/01/07, San Jose Mercury News)

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said this morning that reports of an affair with an assistant in his office 18 months ago are true and apologized for the ``personal lapse of judgment.''

``I want to make it clear that everything you've heard and read is true, and I am deeply sorry about that,'' Newsom said about the affair with the aide, who is also the wife of his former campaign manager.

The usually smiling Newsom appeared grim and would not take any questions from the dozens of reporters who packed his City Hall office.

Newsom apologized to Alex Tourk, who resigned Wednesday after reportedly confronting the mayor about the affair, and Ruby Rippey-Tourk. He said ``they are friends of mine.''

Newsom also apologized to his staff and his family.

``I'm also sorry that I let the people of San Francisco down,'' he said.