Ex-San Diego Mayor Bob Filner Dies at 82 | Voice of San Diego
 |
| Bob Filner as Mayor |
NEWS STORY
SAN DIEGO — Robert Earl "Bob" Filner, who rose from school board member to congressman and briefly served as San Diego's 35th mayor, built a political career spanning over three decades before it dramatically collapsed amid sexual harassment allegations in 2013.
Born on September 4, 1942, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood, Filner was the son of Sarah F. and Joseph H. Filner. His father was a labor union organizer, U.S. Army veteran, and later an international metal trader. Filner attended Cornell University, where he worked on The Cornell Daily Sun student newspaper and participated in civil rights demonstrations. In June 1961, as a Freedom Rider, he was arrested in Jackson, Mississippi, for "disturbing the peace and inciting a riot." He refused to post bond and remained incarcerated for two months. He graduated from Cornell in 1963 with a degree in chemistry, and later earned his doctorate in history of science from Cornell in 1969. He also received a master's degree in history from the University of Delaware.
His early professional career included working for U.S. Senator Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota in 1975 and for Minnesota congressman Don Fraser in 1976. In 1984, he worked for Congressman Jim Bates from the San Diego area, gaining valuable political experience before launching his own electoral career.
Filner's political journey began in 1979 when his opposition to a neighborhood school closure prompted him to run for the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education, where he defeated a longtime incumbent. His colleagues elected him board president in 1982, recognizing his leadership abilities and "back to basics" approach to education.
His political ascent continued when he won election to the San Diego City Council in 1987 and was reelected in 1991. His council colleagues selected him as deputy mayor during his tenure.
In 1992, Filner successfully ran for Congress in California's 50th Congressional District (later renumbered as the 51st after the 2000 census). The district was one of the most ethnically diverse in the nation, including much of San Diego's southern section, the cities of Chula Vista and National City, and all of Imperial County. He would serve ten terms in the House of Representatives, rising to chair the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs from 2007 to 2011.
Throughout his congressional career, Filner developed a reputation as a progressive Democrat focused on veterans' issues, healthcare, and immigration reform. He was a founding member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and served on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, rising to become chairman from 2007 to 2011 after Democrats took control of the House.
As Veterans' Affairs Committee chairman, Filner championed numerous legislative achievements, including the Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010 and the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009. He advocated for increased funding for veterans benefits, expanded healthcare spending, and secured a new GI Bill for veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq. One of his signature accomplishments was securing $198 million in pension benefits for Filipino veterans who served for the United States in World War II as part of the 2009 stimulus bill. His work on behalf of Filipino veterans was so significant that a bill was filed in the Philippine House of Representatives seeking to confer honorary Filipino citizenship on him.
In total, Filner was the primary sponsor of six bills that were enacted into law during his congressional tenure. He also introduced legislation to establish a "bill of rights" for women who served in the military, demonstrating his advocacy for female veterans. His district's proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border made immigration policy particularly relevant to his constituents. He also maintained a notable rivalry with Juan Vargas, another Democratic politician who ran against Filner in the Democratic primary three times.
After nearly two decades in Congress, Filner decided against running for reelection in 2012, instead launching a campaign for mayor of San Diego. He resigned from the House on December 3, 2012, to assume his mayoral duties.
However, his mayoral tenure lasted just eight months. The downfall began on July 11, 2013, when three longtime political allies—former City Councilwoman Donna Frye and attorneys Marco Gonzalez and Cory Briggs—held a press conference calling for his resignation, citing "credible" allegations of sexual harassment.
"We want the women of this city and the people who love them to know that sexual abuse is not normal," Frye said at the press conference, marking the beginning of the end for Filner's political career.
What followed was unprecedented in San Diego politics, as at least 19 women came forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Filner, some dating back to his time as a congressman and city councilman.
On July 22, 2013, his former communications director Irene McCormack Jackson filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him, becoming the first to publicly accuse the mayor. Days later, political consultant Laura Fink revealed that Filner had inappropriately touched her at a 2005 fundraising event when she worked as his deputy campaign manager.
The scandal quickly engulfed the mayor's office. His chief of staff, Vince Hall, announced his resignation on July 12, effective immediately. Ten days later, Filner's replacement chief of staff Tony Buckles also resigned after just ten days on the job. The administration was in disarray as the accusations mounted.
As the pressure intensified, Filner announced on July 26, 2013, that he would undergo two weeks of intensive behavioral therapy. However, this attempt at damage control failed to quell the growing calls for his resignation, which by then included all nine San Diego City Council members.
After weeks of mounting pressure, Filner announced on August 23, 2013, that he would resign effective August 30, 2013. During his resignation speech, he apologized to the city and the women he had offended, but also claimed he was the victim of a "lynch mob."
Filner's legal troubles continued after his resignation. On October 15, 2013, he pleaded guilty to one felony count of false imprisonment and two misdemeanor counts of battery. His plea agreement included three years of probation, three months of home confinement, and a lifetime ban from seeking public office.
In 2018, Filner publicly apologized again for his actions and asked for forgiveness. Today, women's rights advocates view the Filner scandal as a watershed moment that preceded the #MeToo movement by helping demonstrate how speaking out against powerful figures can inspire others to come forward.
Political analysts note that Filner's case represents one of the most dramatic falls from grace in California political history—from a congressman who championed veterans' rights to a disgraced former mayor whose legacy is forever tarnished by his misconduct.
EPITAPH
ROBERT EARL "BOB" FILNER
September 4, 1942 – April 20, 2025
A man of contradiction who rose through decades of public service only to fall by his own actions. As a school board member, city councilman, ten-term congressman, and briefly as San Diego's 35th mayor, Filner advocated for veterans, education, and progressive causes. He fought for civil rights in his youth and later championed healthcare reform and immigration policy.
His career, which began with fighting to save a neighborhood school, ended in disgrace amid sexual harassment allegations that forced his resignation after just eight months as mayor. His story serves as both a cautionary tale about the abuse of power and a reminder that no achievement can excuse personal misconduct.
May the lessons of his complex legacy guide future generations of public servants toward a higher standard of conduct and character. History will remember both his contributions to public service and the personal failings that ultimately defined his career's end.
Sources
1. "Bob Filner." Wikipedia. Accessed April 28, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Filner
2. "The Filner Files." KPBS Public Media. Accessed April 28, 2025. https://www.kpbs.org/news/filner/
3. "Bob Filner." Ballotpedia. Accessed April 28, 2025. https://ballotpedia.org/Bob_Filner
4. "A decade later, Filner sexual harassment scandal seen as a watershed." KPBS Public Media. August 24, 2023. https://www.kpbs.org/news/politics/2023/08/23/a-decade-later-filner-sexual-harassment-scandal-seen-as-a-watershed
5. "Congresswoman accuses former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner of sexual harassment." San Diego Union-Tribune. November 24, 2017. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/sd-me-filner-accusation-20171120-story.html
6. "Key Players in the Mayor Bob Filner Scandal." NBC 7 San Diego. December 9, 2013. https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/key-players-in-the-mayor-bob-filner-scandal/1956627/
7. "Talks could determine if San Diego Mayor Bob Filner stays on job." CNN. August 21, 2013. https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/20/us/san-diego-mayor-bob-filner-scandal/index.html
8. "Former Rep. Bob Filner - D California, 51st, Resigned - Biography." LegiStorm. Accessed April 28, 2025. https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/51380/Robert_Filner.html
9. "Filner Harassment Scandal Grows As Second Woman Comes Forward." KPBS Public Media. July 23, 2013. https://www.kpbs.org/news/evening-edition/2013/07/23/filner-harassment-scandal-grows-2nd-woman-come-for
10. "Bob Filner." Jewish Virtual Library. Accessed April 28, 2025. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/bob-filner
11, Ex-San Diego Mayor Bob Filner Dies at 82 | Voice of San Diego
Comments
Post a Comment