Expert: Silda Spitzer may return to law

By Marlene Naanes, amNewYork Staff Writer
More stories | MNaanes@am-ny.com

March 13, 2008

New York Governor Elliott Spitzer (L) and his wife Silda Wall Spitzer arrive for entertainment in the East Room of the White House, featuring singers Vince Gill and Amy Grant, following a State Dinner for US state governors in Washington, DC, February 24, 2008. AFP (SAUL LOEB, AFP/Getty Images / March 10, 2008)

Silda Wall Spitzer is an intelligent and successful woman who will have a slew of opportunities ahead of her, even with the cloud of her husband's indiscretions overhead, experts say.

Once a highly successful corporate attorney, Spitzer later entered into philanthropy and decided to stay home with the couple's three children when her husband became governor. With or without him, she's poised to continue on a successful career path.

"She can do what she wants, and her philanthropic efforts could have even more importance and emotional currency attached to them," said Hank Sheinkopf, who ran two Eliot Spitzer's campaigns.

Silda Spitzer also began a children's foundation in 1996.

Now that her husband's political career is over, she may return to the job she loved --and gave up -- to support him. "We do know one thing," said political analyst Alan Chartock. "We do know Mrs. Spitzer is a brilliant lawyer, and I would not be surprised if she goes back into law."

One thing is almost certain to analysts, she will likely not follow the path of some wives of disgraced politicians.

"She's got three children and her husband needs a lot of help," Chartock said. "I think there's a world apart between her and Hillary Clinton."

When Spitzer, 50, will move forward with her next endeavor, is a more complicated speculation, experts say. Lynn Berger, a New York-based career counselor, advises people suffering from trauma to let it sink in and make career decisions later with a more level head.

She and other experts believe, however, that Spitzer could use work to escape the aftermath of her husband's indiscretions. It may help balance and sustain her through the tough times, some psychologists said.

"I'm sure in all the external ways she'll be fine," said psychologist Yael Margolin-Rice. "In the internal ways nobody knows."