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The way Mayor Bob Filner sees it, City Attorney Jan Goldsmith started the fight.
The city attorney called a last-minute press conference on Wednesday to respond to the mayor’s call for a new tourism marketing deal. (For background on how the hotel fee hike works, check out this video.)
Filner showed up at the gathering to criticize Goldsmith for updating the media ahead of the mayor and City Council.
Here are the four most awkward and outrageous moments from the press conference.
1. Enter Filner
Mayor Bob Filner just crashed City Attorney Jan Goldsmith’s press conference on TMD. #filnereverywhere twitter.com/LisaHalverstad…
— Lisa Halverstadt (@LisaHalverstadt) February 20, 2013
Reporters started questioning Goldsmith about his legal interpretations, which largely came out against Filner. One reporter asked whether the mayor had been notified of these opinions.
That’s when the mayor piped in.
“The answer is no.”
He took the city attorney’s podium after Goldsmith stepped away.
Filner blasted Goldsmith for failing to notify the Mayor’s Office and the council of his opinions before sharing them with the press.
“You not only have been unprofessional but unethical in this press conference, and I resent it greatly that you’re giving your advice through the press,” Filner said. “This advice is to me. This advice is to the City Council and besides, the advice is wrong and trivial.”
2. ‘Are you an attorney?’
At some point, the mayor noticed a woman shaking her head in the back of the room. She turned out to be Carmen Sandoval, the city attorney’s executive assistant.
Filner: “Who’s the lady at the door? Is that your press person or who?”
Sandoval: “Mr. Goldsmith’s assistant.”
Filner: “Are you an attorney? Are you an attorney? Are you an attorney?”
Goldsmith: “Bob, Bob … “
Filner: “Ma’am, are you an attorney? Are you an attorney? Well, you keep commenting on what I’m saying when I say something’s illegal. We’ve got not only the city attorney’s assistant giving the advice but … “
3. Sharing the bully pulpit
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| Photo by Lisa Halverstadt |
| City Attorney Jan Goldsmith steps away from the podium to allow Mayor Bob Filner to speak at an explosive Feb. 20 press conference at the city attorney’s office. |
Goldsmith felt the need to respond. It was his press conference, after all, so he returned to the podium.
“I hope in the future we’ll know about these issues and get consulted in advance but if I read them in the newspaper and they’re wrong, I have to comment on them,” he said.
“I have no obligation to inform you of any policy decisions I make,” Filner shot back.
Goldsmith emphasized that he serves the city and is an “independent, elected office holder.”
“Mike Aguirre,” Filner mumbled to himself, referring to the combative former city attorney who was often antagonistic toward the mayor and City Council.
Moments later, Filner took the podium again. He wanted to repeat his points “for the cameras.”
It’s worth noting that both men stepped up to the podium multiple times to share their messages. It was a press conference, after all.
4. The sendoff
After Filner wrapped up, Goldsmith thanked reporters for attending.
“I disagree with whatever he said. We used to have a city attorney who wanted to be mayor, now we have a mayor who wants to be city attorney,” Goldsmith said as reporters began leaving.
A few moments later, Goldsmith dismissed questions about a feud with the mayor.
“I’m one of the people in San Diego who actually likes (Filner),” Goldsmith said.
Lisa Halverstadt is a reporter at Voice of San Diego. Know of something she should check out? You can contact her directly at lisa.halverstadt@voiceofsandiego.org or 619.325.0528.
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