Kristin M. Davis

For the actress, see Kristin Davis.

Kristin Davis
Anti-Prohibition Party nominee for Governor of New York
Election date November 2, 2010
Opponent(s)	Andrew Cuomo, Carl Paladino, several minor parties
Incumbent	David Paterson
Personal details
Born	July 7, 1975 (1975-07-07) (age 36) Fresno, CA
Political party	Anti-Prohibition Party
Alma mater	St. Mary's College
Occupation	Former madam
Website	http://www.kristindavis2010.com/

Kristin M. Davis, formerly known as the Manhattan Madam, is a former madam famous for having run one of the prostitution rings that Governor of New York Eliot Spitzer frequented prior to the scandal leading to his resignation.

Involvement in prostitution industry

Davis was a madam who competed with the Emperors Club VIP, the escort service at the center of the Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal, and has suggested that Spitzer frequented her services as well. Among her employees was a woman named Irma Nici, who claims to have served Spitzer and English footballer David Beckham during her time in Davis's agency.^[1] Indeed, she stated on The Joy Behar Show that Spitzer was blacklisted from her agency for his behavior toward her staff. Davis served four months in prison on Rikers Island for her role in the scandal^[2][3] and was sentenced to five years probation, which was cut short at two and a half years in November 2010.^[4][5] Davis claims she witnessed "psychosexual torture" during her time on Rikers Island.^[6] She says that she has ended her involvement in the prostitution industry as a madam after serving that jail time.^[7] Prior to her work in prostitution, she worked in the back office of a hedge fund operation.^[8]

Davis announced in 2011 that she would be opening "Hope House," a nonprofit organization designed to assist women affected by sex trafficking. A hotline is to be set up within the year, while a full shelter will be constructed in 2013 if the funds allow it.^[9]

Davis claimed in 2011 that her agency provided prostitutes to Dominique Strauss-Kahn in 2006, but that he was "rough and angry", and according to her, "When men abuse women I'm no longer going to protect their identities."^[10]

Gubernatorial campaign

Davis was a candidate in the New York gubernatorial election, 2010 on the Anti-Prohibition line. She ran on a platform of legalizing prostitution, marijuana and same sex marriage, and firearms rights.^[2][11][12] Among her unorthodox campaign strategies was the naming of her campaign committee as "Friends of Kristin Davis," which abbreviated to FOKD.^[13] She has stated a goal of raising $2 million for her campaign.^[14] She admits that she does not believe she can win.^[15] She also stated:^[16]

I am confident that I can collect more than enough signatures from cadres of escorts, ex-escorts, strippers, dancers, dommes, gays, lesbians, Libertarians, Ron Paul supporters, U.S. Marines, rappers who revere the pimp or other lovers of freedom moving my petitions under the direction of my communications consultant Frank Morano.

Roger Stone, who previously worked as an operative for former Presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George Bush, Sr., was initially named as Davis's campaign manager,^[2] and is still listed as so as of April 2010,^[17] though he has also been cooperating with his protege, Michael Caputo, on a competing campaign by Buffalo developer Carl Paladino.^[18] Stone has stated that the two candidates have distinct goals (Davis is only seeking to gain the requisite 50,000 votes, while Paladino, in Stone's perception, has an actual chance to win), and as such he does not believe there is a direct conflict of interest. Stone also said he accepted his position in the Davis campaign before Paladino entered the race.^[19] Caputo has stated that he believes Davis will at least outdraw Conservative Party nominee Rick Lazio.^[20]

Davis competed against Sam Sloan and Guilderland attorney Warren Redlich for the nomination of the Libertarian Party of New York. However, she refused to appear at the party's convention on April 24, 2010, leading to her name being left off the ballot and Redlich easily winning the nomination.^[21] Those within the party are concerned that Davis will splinter the Libertarian Party vote by running on her self-created ballot line.^[21] Several names for the line, including "Surprise Party," "Citizens Party," "Marijuana Legalization Party," "Hookers and Pot Party," "Personal Freedom Party" and "Reform Party" were rejected by outside sources (Personal Freedom due to a conflict with Charles Barron's "Freedom Party" despite Barron's much later entry into the gubernatorial race, and Reform Party due to a dispute with the national Reform Party),^[22] before settling on the name "Anti-Prohibition Party" in July 2010.

Davis has floated the name of Tucker Carlson as a potential lieutenant governor candidate,^[16] but Carlson apparently declined. Instead, Anti-Prohibition Party petitions had Linda Espejo listed as the lieutenant governor candidate, though at least one report suggests that Espejo has declined the nomination, requiring a replacement to be named by a committee.^[23] The party named Jewish-Russian-American lawyer and community organizer Tanya Gendelman as Espejo's replacement.^[24] Randy Credico, already running in the Democratic Party primary and cross-endorsed by the Libertarians, is the nominee for the Senate seat held by Chuck Schumer. Vivia Morgan is the candidate for Kirsten Gillibrand's Senate seat. Davis endorsed Democrat Kathleen Rice for attorney general, though Rice will not appear on the APP line.^[15] Jeffrey Graham, the mayor of Watertown, endorsed Davis, and despite declining an invitation to be the APP lieutenant governor nominee, he continued to campaign for Davis at his business and on his Web site.

Davis finished with 20,898 votes in the official vote tally, less than half the necessary votes to qualify as a political party. She finished in last place among those on the ballot. By comparison, Redlich finished with 46,091 votes in the same tally, more than double the total Davis drew; however, Caputo's prediction of beating Lazio came true, since Lazio only received 65 votes, all write-ins (as after failing to win the Republican nomination, Lazio dropped off the Reform Party nomination in favor of Paladino).^[25]

Davis has indicated that she will not return to politics. She had left open the possibility of running for any office that Spitzer sought, but Spitzer closed his campaign accounts in July 2011, making it extremely unlikely that Spitzer (or, by extension, Davis) will ever seek public office again.

References

1. ^ Irma: Spitzer's a joke. New York Post (2010-10-13). Retrieved 2010-10-15.
2. ^ ^{a b c} Rush & Molloy (2010-02-07). "Kristin Davis, alleged Eliot Spitzer madam, to run for New York governor with GOP Roger Stone's help". Nydailynews.com. http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/02/07/2010-02-07_kristin_davis_alleged_eliot_spitzer_madam_to_run_for_new_york_governor_with_gop_.html. Retrieved 2010-03-01. 
3. ^ Stone, Roger. Madam To Take The Plunge. February 8, 2010.
4. ^ "Ex-Eliot Spitzer madam Kristin Davis' to challenge Andrew Cuomo in New York gubernatorial election". Daily News (New York). 2010-08-22. http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/08/23/2010-08-23_exeliot_spitzer_madam_kristin_davis_to_challenge_andrew_cuomo_in_new_york_gubern.html. 
5. ^ Benjamin, Elizabeth (2010-11-09). Manhattan Madam off probation. State of Politics. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
6. ^ Orden, Erica (2010-10-17). Candidates Crowd Stage. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2010-10-17.
7. ^ "Legalize Prostitution". Kristindavis2010.com. http://www.kristindavis2010.com/legalize_prostitution. Retrieved 2010-03-01. 
8. ^ Kristin Davis’s Wall Street Background Helped Make Her Who She Is Today. New York Magazine. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
9. ^ "Manhattan Madam Kristin Davis plans to start nonprofit Hope House for victims of sex trafficking". Daily News (New York). 2011-02-07. http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2011/02/08/2011-02-08_manhattan_madam_kristin_davis_plans_to_start_nonprofit_hope_house_for_hookers_wo.html. 
10. ^ Jon Swaine (2011-05-19). "IMF head 'hired prostitutes from Manhattan Madam'". The Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/dominique-strauss-kahn/8522586/Dominique-Strauss-Kahn-IMF-head-hired-prostitutes-from-Manhattan-madam.html. Retrieved 2011-05-19. 
11. ^ Howard, Michael. "Paterson Exit Puts Cuomo in Driver's Seat - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748703940704575089991068438722.html. Retrieved 2010-03-01. ^{[dead link]}
12. ^ "‘Manhattan Madam’ Kristin Davis: ‘Why I will run for Governor in 2010′". Independent Political Report. http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2010/02/manhattan-madam-kristin-davis-why-i-will-run-for-governor-in-2010/. Retrieved 2010-03-01. 
13. ^ "Friends". Kristindavis2010.com. http://www.kristindavis2010.com/friends. Retrieved 2010-03-01. 
14. ^ Davis, Kristin (February 7, 2010), Why I Will Run for Governor in 2010, http://manhattanmadam.com/kristins_blog/?y=2010&m=2 
15. ^ ^{a b} Benjamin, Elizabeth. Madam Governor in waiting. State of Politics. Retrieved 2010-06-25.
16. ^ ^{a b} Mike Colapietro (03-9-10), Spitzer madam Kristin Davis busts into New York governor’s race, The Huffington Post, http://dailycaller.com/2010/03/09/spitzer-madam-kristin-davis-busts-into-new-york-governors-race/3/ 
17. ^ Spitzer antagonist advises ex-madam's bid for governor. New York Times. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
18. ^ Vielkind, Jimmy (2010-04-06). Hi, Roger!. Capitol Confidential (Albany Times Union). Retrieved 2010-04-06.
19. ^ Hakim, Danny. Opposing Campaigns, With One Unlikely Link: Roger Stone Plays Role in Two Opposing Campaigns. The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
20. ^ http://capitaltonight.com/2010/09/andrew-cuomos-delivery-boy/
21. ^ ^{a b} Churchill, Chris (2010-04-25). Tiny party, big tent. Albany Times Union. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
22. ^ Rubenstein, Dana (2010-07-01). After Cease and Desist, 'Manhattan Madam' Kristin Davis Forced to Change Party Name. New York Observer. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
23. ^ Graham, Jeffrey (2010-08-12). Madame needs new mate. Mayor Graham's View. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
24. ^ Graham, Jeffrey. The Russians are coming!. Mayor Graham's View. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
25. ^ http://www.scribd.com/doc/44544730/RevisedGovReturns12-1-10

External links

• ManhattanMadam.com
• Kristin Davis 2010 official campaign site

Persondata
Name
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	July 7, 1975
Place of birth	Fresno, CA
Date of death
Place of death