Gov. Gavin Newsom has revealed new details on the drunken hijinks and philandering that defined his early years in politics, as he rampaged across San Francisco quaffing fine wines and scoring dates with socialites, actresses and party girls — all in his new book, “Young Man In a Hurry,” released Tuesday.
The governor revealed he did not handle bachelorhood “with discernment” after his divorce from Kimberly Guilfoyle in 2005, when he was serving as mayor.
Kimberly Guilfoyle Newsom gazing up at then-Mayor Gavin Newsom in 2004. Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images“After a twelve-hour day at work, the single guy showed up at the restaurant bar, ordered a glass of wine, chatted with an old customer, chatted with a new friend, ordered another glass of wine, ordered takeout, went home, and woke up the next morning believing what happened the night before had been a private matter.”
The memoir mentions several of Newsom’s past dalliances, though it conspicuously omits his brief relationship with Brittanie Mountz, who was only 19 years old when 38-year-old Newsom dated her. Newsom later told the New York Times the two only went on “a few dates.”
Then-Mayor Newsom arrives at the San Francisco Symphony with his date Brittanie Mountz in 2006. Deanne Fitzmaurice / San Francisco Chronicle / Polaris
Rae Walker Mountz, formerly Brittanie Mountz. Rae Walker Mountz
His aides ragged him about his playboy antics, informing him that one unnamed date was “the former girlfriend of a Silicon Valley mogul.”
Newsom also dated “dark and seductive” actress Sofia Milos — despite warnings from aides that she was a Scientologist trying to recruit him, according to Newsom’s memoir.
“When I accompanied Sofia to the annual dinner of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, a group cofounded by the Church of Scientology, [San Francisco Chronicle] columnists Phil Matier and Andy Ross all but accused me of abandoning my faith,” Newsom writes.
Kelley Phleger at the YES Scholars 25th Anniversary Gala. Variety via Getty Images“‘My gosh, folks, relax … I’m not a Scientologist,'” Newsom told the press, per the book.
The relationship ended only when billionaire oil heir Gordon Getty, who bankrolled his wine company Plumpjack and his political career, told him to break things off in a “personal note” written in pen.
Getty “went down to his study and wrote me a personal note, in pen, that arrived at my apartment a few days later. ‘I’m very concerned about what’s going on between you and this woman. I don’t think she’s right for you.'”
Gavin Newsom with his then-wife, Kimberly Guilfoyle Newsom. Hearst Newspapers via Getty ImagesMilos and Newsom went their “separate ways,” but Newsom’s partying would soon lead him down a disastrous path.
“Ruby was drinking too much and so was I,” Newsom writes of his former appointments secretary, then called Ruby Rippey-Tourk.
She “was among a group of staffers who came to my apartment for a party. She was the last to leave. It was the stupidest and also briefest of affairs. A year later, to her credit, Ruby decided to come clean to her twelve-step group,” and Newsom later acknowledged the affair to the press.
He claimed in the book he attended counseling sessions at Delancey Street, a foundation focused on substance use, but his counselor ultimately told him he didn’t have a drinking problem.
Phleger smiling at the Gala Performance of “Turandot.” Getty Images“You can start drinking your f–king wine again,” the counselor is quoted as saying.
Newsom also discussed a roughly five-year relationship with former girlfriend Kelley Phleger, now wife of actor Don Johnson.
The governor also divulged his early doubts about his marriage to Guilfoyle.
Don Johnson and Phleger attending a gala performance. Getty Images“One night, perhaps eight or nine months into our relationship, I sat alone in one of our Plumpjack delivery trucks and contemplated whether marrying Kimberly was the right thing to do. Did I love her? Did she love me?”
Newsom was warned by Billy Getty, son of Gordon Getty, to “be careful” with the then-San Francisco prosecutor before embarking on a couple’s trip to Hawaii with Getty’s now-wife, Vanessa Getty.
Newsom eventually landed a blind date with his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, in 2006.
Siebel Newsom, now a feminist fillmmaker, was criticized for blaming Rippey-Tourk for her affair with Newsom, saying she was “the culprit” in the dalliance. She later apologized for the remarks.
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