Irene McCormack Jackson, former press secretary and communications director to San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, sued Filner on July 22 for sexual harassment alleging the embattled mayor asked her to "get naked" and on a handful of occasions to kiss him.
Filner, a former Democratic congressman, is in hot water after allegations from other women about his alleged inappropriate behavior. Jackson is the first to go public and hired powerhouse lawyer Gloria Allred to pursue the case.
McCormack, a former journalist and VP of public policy and external relations for the Port of San Diego, signed on to the $125K-a-year PR post for Filner in January.
In her complaint, she details several instances of Filner's behavior, including in June when the mayor was reading a proposed press release: "As Defendant Mayor Filner got up to leave, with the door to her office open, he said in sum or substance, 'you are so beautiful. I am infatuated with you. When are you going to get naked? Come on, give me a kiss.' As Plaintiff McCormack Jackson attempted to get [Filner] to leave her office, he kissed her on the cheek. Plaintiff sternly told him that he needed to leave her office. [Filner] replied, 'you cannot kick me out. I am the Mayor. I can go anywhere I want, any time I want.'"
In another incident alleged in the complaint, Filner pulled Jackson toward him in an elevator and said, "I am so in love with you. Wouldn't it be great if you took off your panties and worked without them on?"
Mayor to Fight Suit
Commenting on the suit, Filner said he doesn't believe the claims are valid. "I intend to defend myself vigorously and I know that justice will prevail," he said.
Jackson's complaint also details an account of deputy chief of staff Alan Jones confronting the mayor in a staff meeting about his behavior toward female staffers. Jones resigned after Filner allegedly brushed off his concerns and Jackson walked out after questioning Filner in the meeting, as well. Jackson said the mayor offered her another PR post under the city COO, which she took.
Filner publicly apologized in a video statement July 11, saying he "diminished" the mayor's office and is seeking professional help. " As someone who has spent a lifetime fighting for equality for all people, I am embarrassed to admit that I have failed to fully respect the women who work for me and with me, and that at times I have intimidated them," he said.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department has set up an anonymous tip line to field complaints about the mayor.
Jackson is seeking damages in state court for San Diego County.
Allred held a press conference with McCormack after filing the complaint on July 22.
McCormack was an editor and reporter for the San Diego Union-Tribune before entering the political PR arena.
PR, Political Consultants Quit
San Diego media reported July 25 that three staffers at PR and a public affairs consulting firm that works with Filner, Public Policy Strategies, left the firm after a top executive met with the embattled mayor July 21.
The exiting staff includes Rachel Laing, former press secretary to SD Mayor Jerry Sanders and ex-PR manager for Sempra Energy, president Phil Rath, and VP Kimberly Hale, a former director of community relations for the San Diego Film Commission.
The resignations came after PPC founder Thomas Shepard has reportedly met with Filner, whom he has advised in the past. NBC-7 San Diego reported Shepherd has been heavily criticized for continuing to support Filner.
Have a comment? Send it to 
No comments have been submitted for this story yet.