SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – District 4 voters will go to the polls this August to replace San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, who officially resigned on May 15th.
This follows a March lawsuit filed by a former MTS employee who accused him of sexual assault and harassment.
Here’s a timeline that explains the controversy:
March 26
Late Sunday night, Fletcher announced he was dropping out of the state Senate race and checking into a treatment center for post-traumatic stress, trauma and alcohol abuse. He claimed to have left the state for treatment.
March 28-29
Less than 48 hours later, the next bomb occurred. A lawsuit filed by former San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) employee Grecia Figueroa has gone public, alleging Fletcher sexually harassed and assaulted her. In the lawsuit, Figueroa also said she was abruptly fired from MTS the same day Fletcher announced her candidacy for the California Senate. Figueroa also named MTS in his lawsuit, alleging retaliation by the whistleblower. Fletcher responded to the lawsuit in a statement where he admitted to having “consensual interactions with” Figueroa, but denied allegations of harassment and retaliation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu0KwTsb8cc
March 30
The next day, he announced his resignation from the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Two Fletcher staffers resigned in the wake of the allegations, one of them being policy chief Emily Wier. Fletcher’s resignation will be effective Monday, May 15 at 5 p.m
April 1
An investigation by Team 10 found that Fletcher, without telling the public, spent $1.9 million on a private security detail with taxpayer money.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm-wZF2jsvk
April 10
Board President Nora Vargas filed a vote of no confidence against embattled Supervisor Nathan Fletcher and called for his immediate resignation. According to statement from Supervisor Jim Desmond, the vote of no confidence and the call for Fletcher’s resignation will be symbolic, since the board does not have the power to remove him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRycTfpJEpw
April 20
ABC 10News learned the Metropolitan Transit System board could not vote on the three recommended candidates: La Mesa Councilwoman Patricia Dillard; Steve Goble, El Cajon councilman; and Stephen Whitburn, San Diego City Councilman. Until May 18, Whitburn will remain acting chairman until his next council meeting.
May 15
In a letter obtained by ABC 10News, Fletcher apologized to his District 4 constituents and defended himself against the allegations leveled against him. The letter was issued hours before he resigned from the post.
