Peggy Shannon (left) says San Diego Mayor Bob Filner "kissed her on the lips" during one encounter at City Hall. (Courtesy CBS8)
SAN DIEGO (CBSLA.com) — A great-grandmother and former San Diego city employee came forward Thursday as the latest woman to allege inappropriate sexual advances from Mayor Bob Filner.
Peggy Shannon, 67, a part-time worker at the Senior Citizens Service Desk at City Hall, “was the victim of continuous inappropriate sexual advances” from Filner, according to attorney Gloria Allred.
KNX 1070’s Tom Reopelle reports the woman is the 16th alleged victim to publicly step forward in recent weeks.
According to a statement read by Allred, Filner hugged Shannon and “kissed her on the lips” during an encounter at City Hall shortly after he became mayor in December 2012.
“He would take my hand and talk about us getting together the next weekend,” Shannon said. “I knew he was engaged and I felt very shocked and upset that he would think I would go out with him.”
Shannon did not file a complaint at the time over fears she might potentially lose her job helping senior citizens, the attorney said.
Shannon was expected to return to her job at City Hall on Friday.
Earlier in the day, Kathryn Vaughn became the 15th alleged victim overall to accuse Filner of sexual misconduct after telling San Diego’s CBS8 then-Congressman Filner groped her at a public event in 2003.
He recently concluded an intensive therapy program earlier than expected last Friday and is expected to return to work Aug. 19 despite calls for his resignation.
Several prominent Democratic leaders have called on Filner to resign, including Sen. Barbara Boxer and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.
Allred told reporters no lawsuit had yet been filed on behalf of Shannon.
