Report: Filner to Resign as Soon as Friday

Bob Filner was likely spending his final day as San Diego's mayor Thursday, with a pending settlement of sexual harassment claims against him expected to include his resignation.

Multiple news outlets, citing various anonymous sources close to the negotiations, reported that Filner will step down as early as tomorrow, when the City Council is scheduled to consider the deal that was brokered over three days of negotiations.

Filner has been publicly accused of sexual harassment by 18 women.

It was not immediately clear if the mayor was working at the City Administration Building Thursday. He was not seen during a mid-morning fire drill that resulted in the building being evacuated.

If he does resign, Council President Todd Gloria would become interim mayor. A special election would be held within 90 days. If no single candidate receives over 50 percent of the votes, then a runoff would be held between the top two vote-getters.

Some reports indicated that as part of  the negotiated settlement, in exchange for Filner's resignation the city would foot the bill for at least at portion of any damages awarded in a lawsuit filed against him and the city by one of the mayor's accusers.

The City Council, which has not heard the tentative agreement, will review the proposed settlement in its closed session meeting at 1 p.m. Friday, City Attorney Jan Goldsmith told reporters late Wednesday after emerging from a third and final day of mediation. Immediately after the closed session ends, council members will be allowed to speak about what, if any, actions were taken, paving the way for agreement details to be discussed.

"The City Council has not heard of this proposal and our process at City Hall as well as the mediation process requires that we maintain the confidentiality of the proposal until they have heard of it," Goldsmith said. "This is the process we follow. Any rumors you hear about the proposal you may deem to be untrue."

The mediation was overseen by retired federal judge J. Lawrence Irving. It took place in a downtown high-rise Monday, Tuesday and late Wednesday. Participants included Filner, Goldsmith, Gloria and Councilman Kevin Faulconer.

-City News Service