Running Head: Article Share #1

Article Share #1
Bryan E. Cratty
Eliza Gordner
Marian University
BUS-358
October 6, 2013

Mayor Bob Filner resigned on Friday underneath an attack of harassment complaints,

providing secondary apology to his accusers whereas still denying the allegations and blaming
his downfall on a combination of awkwardness and arrogance.
Mr. Filner compared his situation over the last many weeks, underneath complaints by
quite a dozen ladies, to facing a lynch mob. When a lynch-mob attitude exists, rumors
become accusations, accusations become facts, and facts become proof, Mr. Filner said in an
very long, emotional speech within the council chamber. The city and he came to an agreement
which will pay his legal fees if he chose to resign. Itll additionally cover any damages against
him in any harassment case and pay up to $98,000 for his non-public lawyers.
Mr. Filner, the primary Democrat electoral politician here in more than twenty years, can
step down in August. I never intended to be a politician who went out like this, he said. This
is the toughest call in my life, said Mr. Filner, who devoted much of his comments to
disapproving his political enemies and speaking of his vision for leading town. But calls for his

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resignation grew louder and organizers last Sunday started aggregation signatures to force a
recall election. Organizers of the recall effort said Friday that they already had more than 20,000
signatures, concerning one-fifth of what would be required to qualify for the ballot.
Mr. Filner is the third politician of this town to step down in recent history. Once San
Diego faced widespread money issues in 2005, earning it the nickname Enron-by-the-Sea,
politician Richard murphy, also a Republican, resigned throughout the first year of his second
term. Hes made us the topic of ridicule once more, and thats a giant blow to everyone, Jerry
Sanders, politician from 2005 to 2012, said of Mr. Filner. The quicker that may happen, the better
off we'll probably be. After representing the San Diego area as a legislator for twenty years, Mr.
Filner won the politician race last November with 52 percent of the vote, driven partially by
heavy support from Latinos and people living south of interstate eight, long considered the
dividing line between the wealthier and grittier sections of town.
For many Democrats, his downfall prompted a mixture of relief and despair on one
hand, some urged him to create a clean break for the party to avoid more political damage.
However with his grand promises to shake up city hall, Mr. Filner had provided a serious boost
to local liberal causes. Hes incapable of exercising his workplace, and also the right factor is
happening, said Bob nelson, a political advisor and co-chairman of Mr. Filners finance
committee last fall.
Mr. Filner, who often cited his expertise as a civil rights leader within the 1960s, was
ready to inspire crowds in an exceedingly manner few political leaders here have, Mr. Nelson
said. He made me begin to feel like a 16-year-old once more, with the vitality of his concepts,
said Mr. Nelson, 61. But after the last six weeks, even many of his most ardent supporters
thought he had to step down. Its extremely heartrending, but completely necessary, said
Lorena Gonzalez, a Democratic State Assembly member.

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Todd Gloria, the Democratic council president, can serve as acting politician until a
special election is held within the next ninety days, and is widely expected to run. A half-dozen
different possible candidates include two of the men who ran against Mr. Filner last year. Many
political consultants said that Mr. Fletcher, who is currently a Democrat, has already begun
securing endorsements and fund-raising commitments. Carl DeMaio, the Republican who lost to
Mr. Filner in November and has raised over $500,000 in a bid for Congress, said in an
exceedingly statement Friday that he was considering running.

The New York Times

August 23, 2013
Denying Accusations of Sexual Harassment, the Mayor of San Diego Resigns
By JENNIFER MEDINA
SAN DIEGO Mayor Bob Filner resigned on Friday under a barrage of sexual
harassment complaints, offering an apology to his accusers while still denying the allegations
and blaming his downfall on a combination of awkwardness and hubris.
Mr. Filner compared his situation over the last several weeks, under accusations by more
than a dozen women, to facing a lynch mob.
When a lynch-mob mentality exists, rumors become allegations, allegations become
facts, and facts become evidence, Mr. Filner said in a long, emotional speech in the City
Council chamber. We had a chance to do a progressive vision in this city for the first time in 50
years. We need you to carry that vision forward this is not the time to let it die.
Under an agreement approved Friday, the city will pay most of Mr. Filners legal fees. It
will also cover any punitive damages against him in any sexual harassment lawsuit and pay up to
$98,000 for his private lawyers.

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Mr. Filner, the first Democrat elected mayor here in more than 20 years, will step down
on Aug. 30. I never intended to be a mayor who went out like this, he said.
This is the toughest decision in my life, said Mr. Filner, who devoted much of his
comments to criticizing his political enemies and speaking of his vision for leading the city. He
ended, to a standing ovation from dozens of supporters, by quoting Senator Edward M. Kennedy:
The cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream shall never die.
The Councils decision came after dozens of people voiced their opinions on a deal
whose details they had no way of knowing. Several residents supporting a recall effort urged
council members to reject any deal that would give Mr. Filner money for his legal fees and
damages. But others sought compassion for Mr. Filner, citing his years of championing civil
rights and the poor.
The vote was 7 to 0 in favor of the agreement, with two members sitting it out. But the
deal is not an end to Mr. Filners woes. A lawsuit by his communications aide is likely to move
forward, and a spokesman for the state attorney general said Friday that the office was
continuing with a criminal investigation.
During his speech, Mr. Filner appeared to choke up at times. For my part in causing all
of this, I offer a deep apology, certainly to the citizens of San Diego, he said. To all the women
I offended, I had no intention to be offensive.
But he criticized the news media, which he said played into the hands of those who
wanted a political coup.
If given due process I would be vindicated, Mr. Filner said defiantly.
Not one allegation has ever been independently verified or proven in court, he said. I
have never sexually harassed anyone.

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The resignation capped a tumultuous six weeks for San Diego. Since Mr. Filners top
communications aide first went public with her complaints of sexual harassment last month, 17
more women came forward with accusations, creating a stream of news accounts of Mr. Filner
groping and kissing women against their will. The women who said they were harassed included
a retired Navy rear admiral, a great-grandmother, a university dean and the former
communications director, Irene McCormack Jackson, who filed a lawsuit against the mayor and
the city.
Mr. Filners lawyers filed papers to move the lawsuit to Imperial County, east of the city.
But calls for his resignation grew louder and organizers last Sunday started collecting signatures
to force a recall election.
Organizers of the recall effort said Friday that they already had more than 20,000
signatures, about one-fifth of what would be needed to qualify for the ballot.
Mr. Filner is the third mayor of this city to step down in recent history. Roger Hedgecock,
a Republican, left office after he was convicted of conspiracy in connection with an illegal
campaign contribution in 1985, a felony offense that was eventually reduced and erased from his
record. When San Diego faced widespread financial problems in 2005, earning it the nickname
Enron-by-the-Sea, Mayor Richard Murphy, also a Republican, resigned during the first year of
his second term.
Hes made us the subject of ridicule again, and thats a big blow to everybody, Jerry
Sanders, mayor from 2005 to 2012, said of Mr. Filner. Everyone is going to want to move
forward very quickly to get past this ugly chapter. The faster that can happen, the better off we
will probably be.

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After representing the San Diego area as a congressman for 20 years, Mr. Filner won the
mayoral race last November with 52 percent of the vote, driven in part by heavy support from
Latinos and those living south of Interstate 8, long considered the dividing line between the
wealthier and grittier sections of the city.
For many Democrats, his downfall prompted a mix of relief and despair on one hand,
some urged him to make a clean break for the party to avoid further political damage. But with
his grand promises to shake up City Hall, Mr. Filner had provided a major boost to local liberal
causes.
Hes incapable of exercising his office, and the right thing is happening, said Bob
Nelson, a political consultant and co-chairman of Mr. Filners finance committee last fall.
Mr. Filner, who often referred to his experience as a Freedom Rider in the 1960s, was
able to inspire crowds in a way few political leaders here have, Mr. Nelson said. He made me
begin to feel like a 16-year-old again, with the vitality of his ideas, said Mr. Nelson, 61.
But after the last six weeks, even many of his most ardent supporters thought he had to
step down.
Its really heartbreaking, but absolutely necessary, said Lorena Gonzalez, a Democratic
State Assembly member.
Todd Gloria, the Democratic City Council president, will serve as acting mayor until a
special election is held in the next 90 days, and is widely expected to run.
A half-dozen other possible candidates include two of the men who ran against Mr. Filner
last year. Nathan Fletcher, a former state assemblyman who left the Republican Party last year
and ran for mayor as an independent, filed paperwork on Tuesday declaring his intention to run.

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Several political consultants said that Mr. Fletcher, who is now a Democrat, has already begun
securing endorsements and fund-raising commitments.
Carl DeMaio, the Republican who lost to Mr. Filner in November and has raised more
than $500,000 in a bid for Congress, said in a statement Friday that he was considering running.
Many expect Kevin Faulconer, the longest-serving Republican on the City Council, to
jump in.My goal has always been to restore trust and integrity to city government, he said
before the council meeting. Whats been damaged is a tremendous blow to our reputation. The
city has been paralyzed by this whole event. We always said we wanted the best deal for
taxpayers so we could put the civic dysfunction behind us.
Rob Davis contributed reporting.

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