Former San Diego Mayoral Candidate Files Lawsuit Against Councilwoman

Former City Council candidate Dwayne Crenshaw filed suit Thursday against Councilwoman Myrtle Cole, alleging he was defamed by a mailer that suggested he was involved in illegal drug activity.

In the lawsuit filed in San Diego Superior Court, Crenshaw alleges that he was defamed when Cole's campaigned distributed a mailer last May that referred to decades-old quotes suggesting Crenshaw was once spotted outside a crack house.

Cole could not be immediately reached for comment on the suit, in which Crenshaw alleges defamation, being portrayed in a false light and intentional infliction of emotional distress. He is seeking unspecified damages.

Cole defeated Crenshaw 53 percent to 47 percent in a runoff election to replace Tony Young, who resigned to become CEO of the local chapter of the American Red Cross.

The lawsuit also alleges Remer took the quotes out of context, and that he used the same accusations against Crenshaw in a 2002 race.

"The statements contained in the campaign mailer were false in that Crenshaw was never outside a crack house, never sought to buy illegal drugs, and never lied to police about involvement in criminal drug activity," the complaint states.

In addition to Cole, the suit names her campaign, The Primacy Group and political consultant Larry Remer as defendants.

—City News Service