Political leaders sound off on how to move forward in midst of Filner scandal

By Anthony King | SDUN Editor

As the sexual harassment scandal surrounding Mayor Bob Filner continues to unfold – another woman came forward Thursday, Aug. 15 with more allegations against the mayor – political leaders came together on one stage for a frank conversation on how San Diego is dealing with the crisis now, and what it can do to move forward for the future.

As part of Voice of San Diego’s Politifest event held Aug. 3 at Liberty Station, the message for Filner was clear. Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins and Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez, along with Council President Todd Gloria, councilmembers Kevin Faulconer and Mark Kersey and City Attorney Jan Goldsmith all agree Filner must resign, and do so immediately.

The question posed to the panel by Voice of San Diego CEO Scott Lewis was simple: “What do we do now?”

“We keep doing what we’re doing as San Diegans,” Faulconer said. “We are better than what Bob Filner is putting us through.”

Faulconer’s sentiment was echoed by all on the panel, with a focus on assuring attendees at the political festival that San Diego was still functioning. That did not mean, however, that they did not recognize it was, and continues to be, a difficult time for the city.

“It is important to me that we stay focused on the issues of the people,” Gloria said. “That’s going to be really hard to do; I don’t want to mislead you on how easy that will be.”

Gloria was one of three Democrats invited to the discussion and he and the others – Atkins and Gonzalez – said they did not want to lose the momentum that voters wanted when they voted Filner into office last year. Filner is the first elected Democrat mayor in San Diego in 21 years.

“We as progressives, what we have to realize is unfortunately we elected a very flawed human being,” Gonzalez said.

“We ensure that we can distinguish the difference between a jerk that we elected as mayor and what our progressive movement stands for,” she said. “That’s where we go from here.”

Gloria called Filner a “lemon” and cited the difficulty it was for them as leaders to get things done with an absent mayor entangled in controversy. Filner had announced earlier he would seek a two-week, intensive in-house treatment for his behavior and has several lawsuits filed against him, including one from the city.

“You elected all of us to go to our respective bodies to get stuff done and … it’s much harder to get stuff done – to get results that you demand of us – with Bob Filner as mayor,” Gloria said. “That’s why he has to resign, allow us to put this nightmare behind us and move forward on that pro-neighborhood agenda that we all voted for last fall.”

While many encountered Filner’s erratic and confrontational behavior for years, sexual harassment allegations against the San Diego politician surfaced July 10, when one alleged victim came forward, followed by several others in subsequent weeks. In those first days, many of the same people who supported Filner in his successful bid for mayor – Atkins, Gonzalez and Gloria included – asked for his immediate resignation.

“I think many of us who’ve known Bob for three decades or more know that he is demanding, he is difficult [and] sometimes even abrasive,” Atkins said. “I think what we didn’t foresee or know is there’s a huge difference between abrasive, demanding and difficult, and sexual harassment.”

Lewis said he was proud of San Diegans for having a “difficult conversation” about sexual harassment and the respect due to women, including women in public office, saying the city is facing it “head on.”

Goldsmith, who has had a publicly contentious relationship with the mayor for most of Filner’s first eight months in office, said it was not a time to be pointing fingers, asking who knew what or who is responsible.

“We’re facing a real crisis in our city, and we really do need to come together,” he said.

“What Bob Filner has is not easily discoverable,” Goldsmith said. “This isn’t about sex, this is about power.”

Before the discussion moved to the immediate affects of what will happen – either through Filner’s resignation, a successful recall effort or, much to the panelists’ chagrin, Filner continuing in his role as city leader – Lewis asked each politician who should be the next mayor of San Diego. For Gloria, Lewis asked him directly if he would run.

“I need to give that some more thought,” Gloria said. “I need to hear from all of you, frankly, what you want to see going forward.”

Faulconer, a Republican, was asked a similar question and said he preferred to look at it from a “policy” and “agenda” standpoint, and that he did not support many of Filner’s political initiatives. Kersey, Gonzalez and Atkins all said they would not be running for mayor.

“I’m thrilled to be representing people in Sacramento. I will continue to do what I can to make sure that we support you,” Atkins said.

Kersey leads the Council’s newly established Infrastructure Committee, and the panel discussed many issues surrounding the city’s immediate needs, addressing inequality felt from neighborhood to neighborhood.

Kersey also brought up the topic of the city’s charter, which has come into question regarding the procedure for voters to select a new mayor should Filner be recalled instead of resign. The Council is scheduled to meet Aug. 28 to address those concerns, and Goldsmith said the specific charter provision in question would not be enforced, as it is “clearly unconstitutional.”

All agreed, however, that looking through the charter should come after San Diego’s immediate mayoral needs were addressed.

“First and foremost, if you have not spoken out and called for the mayor to resign, you need to do so,” Gloria said. “This is not a time to sit on your hands and to hope that this goes away.”