San Diego’s Mayor Refuses To Resign, But He Will Eventually

San Diego mayor Bob Filner won’t retire, but some say he’ll be gone soon enough anyway.

Though just about everyone (including many of his own allies) are telling him he needs to step down, the Democratic mayor has made it clear that he won’t budge from office.

He was recently hit with a flurry of graphic sexual harassment accusations from employees and constituents, and even his former fiancée urged him to quit citing inappropriate sexual advances and breaking off their engagement.

He sort-of (not really) admitted to the charges, but said that many have misinterpreted his affectionate behavior for sexual deviance. “I need help,” he admitted, and probably thought that would be enough to get the media to turn the cheek.

Many of the more politically-aligned media publications have, but opponents and allies of the San Diego mayor are still quietly trying to get him to hang up his hat.

“I’m not going to resign, and here’s why,” Filner said Monday 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.”

So it doesn’t look like he’s going to budge, but Sean Sullivan of The Washington Post says he will… eventually.

Though he hasn’t faced charges from authorities and the women who are accusing him have remained anonymous, it’s Filner’s lack of support within his own party that will lead to the demise of his political career.

“This is not a partisan witch hunt,” Sullivan says.

“Pressure from allies has left Filner on an island. And this story will continue to overshadow anything else Filner does, which will make it near impossible for him to move on.”

The case is probably best summarized by veteran California Democratic strategist Garry South, who said:

“It’s difficult for me to see how Filner can actually govern the second-largest city in the largest state in such distracting and debilitating circumstances with no base of support, no spouse or significant other to attest to his good qualities, no real friends, and no loyalty from his own party members.”

Do you think that San Diego mayor Bob Filner should resign?