NYC mayor-elect's spokeswoman dating Eliot Spitzer, reports say

Sept. 10, 2013: Former New York State governor and Democratic candidate for New York City comptroller Eliot Spitzer speaks during his Democratic primary election night event in New York. (Reuters)

A spokeswoman for the incoming New York City mayor has been dating disgraced ex-New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, the New York Post reports.

Lis Smith, 31, who serves as Bill de Blasio’s communications director, hosted Spitzer, who was known to a Washington escort service as "Client No. 9," twice last week at her Manhattan apartment, the Post reported Sunday.

The newspaper details several rendezvous between the two, including Spitzer’s late-night visits and romantic dinners at posh New York restaurants.

A spokeswoman for Spitzer said the ex-governor holds Smith “in high regard” and didn’t deny the relationship. Smith didn’t return requests for comment from the Post.

Smith, who worked on President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign, was hired by Spitzer in July as a spokeswoman during the ex-governor’s unsuccessful primary run for city comptroller earlier this year. She then went to work for de Blasio in September.

She has been considered a front-runner to become de Blasio’s press secretary, Politicker reported.

On Monday, de Blasio would not confirm whether he intends to add Smith to his administration, which begins on Jan. 1, Politicker added.

“I respect Lis as a professional but I also respect her right to privacy,” the mayor-elect said.

Spitzer served as New York’s 54th governor from 2007 to May 2008, when he resigned amid revelations that he patronized an elite escort service.

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