LOS ANGELES – Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) spokesman Art Garcia for years stood side-by-side with former congressman Bob Filner, fighting for equity for Filipino World War II veterans.
Filner had a once sterling reputation as a champion of civil rights and proponent for Filipino veterans seeking veteran benefits.
Now, seeing the 70-year-old Filner ousted as the mayor of San Diego for his alleged mistreatment of women, Garcia said it’s a sad end to Filner’s once sterling political career and reputation.
“This is good for him,” Garcia said. “He can rest now. He has done great thing but he should retire now.”
According to several news reports, Filner earlier in the week signed a letter of resignation as part of a sexual harassment suit against him.
As many as 18 women came out last month and accused Filner of sexual harassment. Filner gave vague apologies to the women and the city. He also underwent behavioral counseling to remedy his ill behavior. But by that time, the ground swell for his removal began and never let up. On Friday, that all culminated when the San Diego City Council voted 7–0 to accept Filner’s resignation. He will officially step down on August 30.
The vote ends Filner’s brief tenure as mayor of San Diego. He had previously served two decades as a San Diego congressman.
Filner took office last year, becoming the first Democratic mayor of San Diego in more than two decades.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend August 24-27, 2013 Sec A pg.8)
