FILE - In this file photo of March 12, 2008, New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer announces his resignation amidst a prostitution scandal as wife Silda looks on in his offices in New York City. The former governor, said Sunday, July 7, 2013 that he is planning a political comeback with a run for New York City comptroller. (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin, File)
FILE - In this file photo of March 12, 2008, New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer announces his resignation amidst a prostitution scandal as wife Silda looks on in his offices in New York City. The former governor, said Sunday, July 7, 2013 that he is planning a political comeback with a run for New York City comptroller. (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin, File)
FILE - In this March 10, 2008 file photo, New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer makes a statement to reporters during a news conference in New York where he apologized to his family and the public after a report that he was involved in a prostitution ring. The former governor, who stepped down in 2008 amid a prostitution scandal, said Sunday, July 7, 2013 that he is planning a political comeback with a run for New York City comptroller. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
FILE - This Nov. 12, 2009 file photo shows former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer addressing an audience during a Harvard University ethics forum on the school's campus in Cambridge, Mass. Spitzer, who stepped down in 2008 over a prostitution scandal, is planning a return to political life with a run for New York City comptroller. In an interview on Sunday, July 7, 2013 Spitzer said he hoped city voters would give him a chance.(AP Photo/Steven Senne, file)
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) ? Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer planned to meet voters Monday in Manhattan while launching his post-scandal political comeback attempt ? a run at the New York City comptroller's job.
Spitzer also will collect petition signatures during the midday appearance in Union Square. Candidates for citywide offices like comptroller have to have 3,750 signatures from registered voters in their party by Thursday.
The Democrat, who stepped down in 2008 amid a prostitution scandal, has spoken in the past about the potential for the comptroller's job to look into corporate misdeeds. That would be similar to what he did as the state's attorney general, when he was known as the "sheriff of Wall Street."
Spitzer, a married father of three, has returned to public life as a commentator, with shows on CNN, Current TV and NY1.
He said he hoped city voters would give him a chance.
"I'm hopeful there will be forgiveness, I am asking for it," he told The New York Times, which first reported his run on Sunday.
Spitzer reiterated the theme Monday on WCBS television, saying he had "sinned," ''owned up to it" and hopes the public will judge him on his record in public service.
He said he'd discussed his potential run with his wife and daughters before making the decision over the weekend.
He conceded that getting back into politics under the circumstances will require "skin as thick as a rhinoceros."
Current Comptroller John Liu is running for mayor.
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer has been the most prominent among the contenders to become New York City's next fiscal chief. He's raised more than $3.5 million and spent about $566,000, city campaign finance records show, while his opponents have yet to report any fundraising or spending.
They include Republican John Burnett, who has worked on Wall Street in various finance capacities and just recently declared his candidacy; Green Party candidate Julia Willebrand, a former teacher; and former madam Kristin Davis. Davis once ran three escort services and claims to have provided hookers to Spitzer, which hasn't been proven.
Spitzer is not the only politician who's looking for a second chance.
Former Rep. Anthony Weiner is running for mayor. The former Democratic congressman left office two years ago amid a scandal over his tweets.
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