19th woman accuses Mayor Filner of sexual harassment
SAN DIEGO — Another woman — the 19th — has gone public with accusations that Mayor Bob Filner sexually harassed her.
The woman had worked in Filner’s mayoral campaign and was eager to meet him at a school event in May, her attorney, Daniel Gilleon, said Tuesday.
He identified her as Marilyn, a secretary for a workers’ compensation judge. She is also an advocate for women who have victims of domestic violence, he said.
“She had always been a fan,” Gilleon said. “She went from fan to complete disdain for Filner within a matter of minutes.”
Filner pulled her toward him, kissed her forehead and slowly took a nametag off her clothing over her breast, Gilleon said. All the while, the woman, described as being in her 50s, was shocked and trying to get away, he added.
A claim may be filed with the city, Gilleon said. On Monday, Gilleon filed a claim on behalf of city employee Stacy McKenzie.
“I feel there are going to be others,” Gilleon said.
Filner’s resignation is set to take effect at 5 p.m. Friday.
The 70-year-old Democrat agreed to resign in exchange for the City Council agreeing to pay for his legal defense against a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by Irene McCormack Jackson, Filner’s former director of communications.
“To all the women that I offended, I had no intention to be offensive, to violate any physical or emotional space,” Filner said after the council approved the deal. “I was trying to establish personal relationships.”
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Twitter: @LATsandiego
tony.perry@latimes.com
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