Like many individuals and organizations invested in the success of progressive policy, the Democratic Woman’s Club of San Diego County was saddened and deeply concerned about the allegations surrounding the resignation of Supervisor Nathan Fletcher. The Democratic Woman’s Club has endorsed Supervisor Fletcher in past political races, because our values align with many of the policies he has championed that have uplifted underserved communities, increased mental health services, and housed families.
The policies put forward by Supervisor Fletcher, for the first time, transitioned the Board of Supervisors away from a focus on punitive action, cronyism, and policy guided by developers, to one focused on bettering the standard of living for San Diego County residents. With the election of Chair Nora Vargas, and Vice Chair Terra Lawson-Remer, progress forward accelerated exponentially and made many San Diegan’s lives better.
Like many Democratic-affiliated groups, the breaking news of Supervisor Fletcher’s mental health issues and inpatient treatment evoked empathy from our membership. The subsequent breaking news of the lawsuit against Fletcher and San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) in rapid succession left our membership confused and disillusioned. The accusations as alleged in the lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of California include: sexual harassment (against all defendants), failure to prevent sexual harassment and retaliation (against MTS), sexual assault and battery (against Fletcher), whistleblower retaliation (against MTS). The allegations outlined in the lawsuit are disturbing, graphic, and gross. They conflict with our organization’s values such as an equitable and harassment-free workplace, consensual sexual intimacy, and bodily autonomy.
We believe as an organization that we can both acknowledge and support the progress and policies advanced by Supervisor Fletcher in his tenure on the Board and simultaneously believe that he is no longer fit to lead in light of these allegations. We believe his resignation from the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System and the San Diego Board of Supervisors is appropriate. Further, we join the voices of people calling for his immediate resignation.
We believe as an organization that due process should be followed, however, in the interim, we call on the San Diego Democratic Party to pursue an expedited process to strip Nathan Fletcher of all rights, privileges and titles held within the San Diego Democratic Party.
We believe that these steps are essential to preserve the integrity of our Democratic Party, demonstrate support for the plaintiff in the lawsuit while still acknowledging the necessity of due process, and continue the progress made for San Diegans by the County Board of Supervisors.
Democratic Woman’s Club of San Diego County
Cathie Hyatt, President
Dr. Andrea Cubitt, Vice President, Internal
Dr. Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson, Vice President, External
Hannah Green, Secretary
Beatrice Cubitt, Treasurer
Ann Crosbie, Director of Communications
Angela de Joseph, Media Director
Alyce Pipkin-Allen, Director of Community Relations
Patricia Wojdowski, Director of Membership
Democratic Woman's Club 