Candidates Scrap Over Lily Pond Scandal

A weekend water fight that caused thousands of dollars in damage in Balboa Park has moved from public nuisance to the arena of mayoral politics.

Mayoral candidate U.S. Rep. Bob Filner wants San Diego police to investigate the role of SDGLN publisher Johnathan Hale in the weekend event that drew an estimated crowd of 1500 to 2000 people to the iconic lily pond in front of the Botanical Building.

Hale is the publisher for SDGLN.com, that promoted the original water fight event. Councilmember and mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio and Hale are partners.

Filner told NBC 7 that judgment and responsibility and character are very important in this mayoral race.

He said his opponent has stated that Hale will play a prominent role in a DeMaio administration and if so, Filner believes voters should know about the incredible lapse of judgment Hale demonstrated in the events of Saturday night.

In a news conference quickly organized at his campaign headquarters late Monday, DeMaio called Filner’s accusations “baseless attacks” against his family.

“Today Bob Filner sunk to a new low in politics,” DeMaio said. “Bob Filner, without any shred of evidence and in the face of clear evidence in the contrary, attacked an innocent man and labeled him a criminal.”

The San Diego Police Department is investigating the incident.

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