Politics & Government
Filner: ‘I'm Not Going to Resign, And Here's Why’
Mayor Bob Filner is saying he won't resign, but more details have been emerging about his alleged mistreatment of women, including his former fiancee.
Originally posted 9:28 a.m. Monday. Updated 12:30 p.m. with more about Walt Ekard.
Amid mounting calls for him to step down in response to multiple sexual harassment allegations, San Diego Mayor Bob Filner said Monday that he won't resign because he is not guilty and is entitled to due process.
But even as he denied the allegations, more details emerged about his alleged mistreatment of women, including claims by his former fiancee Bronwyn Ingram that he was sending sexually explicit text messages to other women while they were together.
[See: Ex-Fiancee Urges Filner to Submit Resignation]
"I’m not going to resign, and here’s why,” Filner said in a statement. “As your elected mayor, I fully expect to be accountable to the citizens of San Diego for all of my actions. But as a citizen of this country, I also expect—and am entitled to—due process, and the opportunity to respond in a fair and impartial venue to specific allegations.
"I do not believe I am guilty of sexual harassment, and I believe a full presentation of the facts will vindicate me."
On Monday, KPBS reported that a 72-year-old woman has claimed, in a sworn affidavit, that Filner grabbed her and kissed her during a meeting earlier this year. The mayor had first asked the woman if she was single and if he could kiss her, according to the report.
"The woman said that right after he asked the question, Filner immediately grabbed her and began kissing her. The woman, according to the affidavit, said she pushed herself away and left the room very upset," the report stated.
While the mayor's office did respond KPBS' request for comment, according to the report, Filner, in his statement saying he would not resign, also announced three appointments as a sign that the current controversy won't compromise city operations, as he said some have claimed to justify asking him to leave.
- Walt Ekard, interim chief operating officer: Voice of San Diego interviewed Ekard, who said he has no plans to stay in the job permanently, and only agreed to the position to help the city move along.
- Scott Chadwick, assistant chief operating officer
- Judy VonKalinowski, human resources director
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