1 Year Later: How Filner Sexual Harassment Scandal Impacted San Diego

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

By Maureen Cavanaugh, Patty Lane, Peggy Pico

We're sorry. This audio clip is no longer available. A transcript for audioclip 22364 has been made available.

Special Feature Filner Files

A year after one of San Diego’s biggest political scandals, a man who was in the middle of the negotiations to replace the city’s top politician says the disgraced former mayor is a changed man.

City Attorney Jan Goldsmith told KPBS Midday Edition his office continues to work on some of the cases associated with sexual harassment allegations against then-Mayor Bob Filner. Filner resigned in August 2013 after multiple women came forward saying he had touched them inappropriately or made sexually aggressive comments to them.

Goldsmith and Filner had a contentious relationship while Filner was in office, but now their meetings are very different, the city attorney said.

"It’s been interesting, and actually we have a good working relationship that includes me and Bob,” he said.

Related story: Ex-Mayor Filner Completes 90 Days Of House Arrest

He added that Filner has made noticeable changes in the past year.

"It was a different Bob Filner and a different time," Goldsmith said. "Mr. Filner has looked inside himself and he has gotten help — a lot of help. ... I think he is a much more humble and cooperative person."

San Diego got through the political turmoil, but the scandal prompted calls for change in the city charter and it gave a much higher profile to the issue of sexual misconduct in the workplace.

FEATURED PODCAST

San Diego news; when you want it, where you want it. Get local stories on politics, education, health, environment, the border and more. New episodes are ready weekday mornings. Hosted by Anica Colbert and produced by KPBS, San Diego and the Imperial County's NPR and PBS station.