SAN DIEGO — In July of 2013, calls for then-San Diego Mayor Bob Filner to resign grew increasingly louder when woman after woman came forward accusing him of sexual misconduct.
Filner had only been in office for about six months.
The story, as well as accusations against the former mayor, dominated headlines for weeks. In all, a total of 18 victims came forward, many of whom shared their experiences publicly.
"He would come in and kiss me on the lips and I would have to squirm to get away," said one accuser.
"I don't appreciate being used," said another.
"He ran his finger up my cheek like this and whispered do you have a man in your life," said another.
Initially, Filner refused to step down.
Instead, he apologized, saying he would undergo two weeks of intensive treatment.
"I begin today by apologizing to you. I have diminished the office to which you elected me," said Filner in 2013.
However, that did little to stop efforts to get him out of office.
A recall campaign got underway, but it never actually happened because less than a month after the scandal first broke, Filner resigned.
"It was certainly not my intention to be a mayor to go out like this," said Filner at the time.
Attorney Gloria Allred remembers Filner's fall from power.
She represented several of his victims.
“I filed the first lawsuit against him with my brave client, Irene McCormack who was his communications director," said Allred.
Now, a decade later, San Diegans are dealing with another scandal involving County Board of Supervisor's Chair Nathan Fletcher.
While the two cases differ in many ways, Allred says it's a reminder of how sexual harassment and assault continue to be barriers in the workplace.
"I'm not commenting on the merit of the case involving Fletcher in San Diego, but what I am saying is it does remind us all that we have many battles to fight and women need to be able to vindicate and assert their rights," said Allred.
Regarding the Fletcher allegations, two women have come forward to report unwanted advances.
One of them, a former MTS employee, says he pursued a sexual relationship with her for months and groped her on two occasions.
However, Fletcher has maintained the relationship was consensual.