San Diego Mayor Bob Filner apologizes for his behavior in this frame from a video produced by the city of San Diego Thursday, July 11, 2013. Filner, embroiled in turmoil less than a year after being elected San Diego’s first Democratic mayor in 20 years, is facing old questions about his confrontational style and a new challenge over allegations that he sexually harassed women. Filner on Thursday rejected calls from prominent former supporters to resign but he apologized for mistreating women and pleaded with voters for patience, saying, “I need help.”SAN DIEGO – The week began with news that Mayor Bob Filner’s fiancee ended their engagement and, by Friday, San Diego’s first Democratic leader in 20 years was desperately trying to stay in office amid sexual harassment allegations made by public by some of his closest supporters. He apologized, promised to change and begged voters to let him keep his job.
The rapid-fire developments put heavy scrutiny on the personal foibles of Bob Filner, a feisty liberal who was elected in November after 10 terms in Congress marked perhaps most famously by a 2007 run-in with a United Airlines baggage handler at Dulles International Airport that resulted in him pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of trespassing.
Filner has long had a reputation for berating employees and been dogged by rumors of making sexual advances on women, but nothing stuck like a former city councilwoman’s comments this week that she had firsthand accounts from more than one woman who was sexually harassed by the mayor.
Donna Frye, who worked briefly for the mayor as his director of open government, didn’t provide any specifics at an emotional news conference Thursday, like the nature of the alleged abuse, when it occurred and how often. But she demanded Filner resign, saying, “There is no doubt in my mind that these allegations are true.”
Filner, 70, didn’t address specifics of his behavior either in an extraordinary video he released hours later that made clear he knew his career was gravely threatened, saying, “I need help.”