Sex-addicted mayor fails to satisfy critics

SAN DIEGO (AP):Mayor Bob Filner's announcement that he will undergo two weeks of full-time therapy defies leaders of his own political party who demanded he resign over allegations of sexual harassment.

The mayor's plans failed to appease many who called for San Diego's first Democratic leader in 20 years to step down less than eight months into his four-year term.

Seven women identified themselves as targets of Filner's unwanted advances that include touching.

"Two weeks of therapy may help Bob Filner with his personal problems, but it does not help to address the needs of San Diego," said Laura Fink, a political consultant who alleges that Filner patted her buttocks at a 2005 fundraiser when she was deputy campaign manager for the then congressman.

She is one of seven women who have publicly identified themselves as targets of Filner's advances.

Scott Peters, a first-term Democratic congressman from San Diego, said the mayor would be unable to accomplish anything with controversy swirling around him.

GREAT MOVE

"I understand the mayor feels like he wants help, and I think that's great," Peters said. "I just don't think it's appropriate for him to do it as mayor. It's pretty clear to me that he's not going to be in a position to lead the city."

Lucas Powell, who works at a coffee house in the upscale Point Loma area and voted for Filner, said he was unimpressed by Filner's announcement and believes the former 10-term congressman should step down as mayor.

"Two weeks isn't going change deep-seated opinions and behaviours," Powell, 30, said during a lull in business Friday night.

Filner's problems began less than three weeks ago when a former councilwoman and one-time Filner supporter called for the mayor to step down, saying she had received credible evidence that he had harassed women.

On Monday, Filner's former communications director, Irene McCormack Jackson, became the first woman to publicly identify herself as target of Filner.

McCormack, who took a $50,000 annual pay cut to join Filner's inner circle in January, filed a lawsuit claiming that the mayor asked her to work without panties, demanded kisses, told her he wanted to see her naked and dragged her in a headlock while whispering in her ear.

The other six women, who described their experiences to KPBS News, include Morgan Rose, a psychologist for the San Diego Unified School District, who said the then congressman repeatedly tried to kiss her during a 2009 meeting to discuss child welfare.