Even as Comic-Con descends on our hearts and minds each year, like a monstrous kaiju from the rift, sometimes real world concerns affect the locals. This year, it’s a doozy, as San Diego’s recently elected mayor Bob Filner has been charged with being an out of control sexual harasser. Although exactly what the 70-year-old Democrat did hasn’t been revealed yet, it was so bad that
* His fiancee ditched him, stating “I am extremely disappointed and heartbroken, both for what Team First Lady could have accomplished, and for me, personally; however, this is the only action I can take given the devolvement of our personal relationship.”
* A former rival held a press conference urging him to step down, charging “I cannot in good conscience remain silent on this, even if those who have spoken to me choose to do so out of fear of retribution or the possibility of a media circus where they could be twice victimized.”
* A staffer wrote: “At our recent meeting I was of the impression that you understood the gravity of the circumstances surrounding your treatment of staff, and in particular, the women who work for you in the Office of the Mayor.”
• Filner himself issues an apology and didn’t even TRY to say he hadn’t done whatever he did: “As someone who has spent a lifetime fighting for equality for all people, I am embarrassed to admit that I have failed to fully respect the women who work for me and with me, and that at times I have intimidated them. [I’m] humbled to admit that I need help….[and am working with] professionals to make changes in my behavior and approach.”
While this may have no impact on Comic-Con, we’re told that in the past Filner was con friendly, so we’d like to issue a warning: if you are a woman and you are at Comic-Con and you see the Mayor of San Diego coming at you, initiate evasive action IMMEDIATELY!
PHoto Credit: Dave Maass]
San Diego politics seems cursed. It’s a very embarrassing and disappointing time for the city.
Also, you list Donna Frye as a “former rival” but she was actually a huge supporter of Filner in his mayoral campaign, which is why people are taking this very seriously. The former leader of labor, Lorena Gonzalez, now an Assemblywoman who was also instrumental in Filner’s election win, is also calling on him to resign as of today.
Ironically, it seems as if people who were opposed to Filner are the ones more accepting and willing to let him stay in office if he seeks help and changes his ways. It’s a very weird twist.
I love his apology: “I’m sick; I need help!”
There’s still time for him to join the sexual sleezeball circus in NYC! Move over Spitzer and Weiner!
These days it seems even a modicum of power corrupts absolutely.
It seems nowadays that the space between the offenses and the eventual second act gets smaller and smaller.
I’m all for second chances, but not the expectation by the offender of a second chance.
You mean to say that there’s someone more creepier than Roger Hedgecock running that city?
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Coat
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