SAN DIEGO – Former Filipino World War II veterans champion Bob Filner on Friday officially stepped down from his post as mayor of San Diego, less than a year into his term.
The beleaguered 70-year-old Filner resigned last week as part of a settlement with the city, after at least 18 women came forward accusing him of sexual harassment.
Todd Gloria, the San Diego city council president, will step in as interim mayor. A special election will be on Nov. 19. Filner becomes the third mayor in San Diego history to resign.
Irene McCormack Jackson, who was the first woman to accuse Filner, will return to the mayor’s office in her previous role as communications director, according to news reports.
“This is a day for celebrations,” Attorney Gloria Allred said in a Friday morning press conference. Allred represented three women in the case.
Filner’s troubles do not end with his resignation. The San Diego Sheriff’s department is conducting a criminal investigation for allegedly misusing the city credit cards and plans to forward the results to the state district attorney’s office.
Filner also faces several other lawsuits from some of the women who have stepped forward against him.
Filner’s resignation due to sexual harassment allegations brings a sad end to his once stellar political career. The former freedom rider and civil rights activist spent 20 years as a congressman. He was an avid supporter of Filipino WWII veterans.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend August 31 – September 3, 2013 Sec A pg.1)
