Windsor Mayor Dominic Foppoli is under increasing pressure to resign after he cast the only dissenting vote in a 2-1 vote to request his resignation. | TownofWindsor.com
Windsor Mayor Dominic Foppoli is under increasing pressure to resign after he cast the only dissenting vote in a 2-1 vote to request his resignation. | TownofWindsor.com
The Windsor Town Council recently voted 2-1 to ask Mayor Dominic Foppoli to resign, with Foppoli casting the only dissenting vote, as mounting sexual assault allegations have set even his own brother against him.
Foppoli has been accused of sexual assault by six different women, with incidents occurring between 2002 and 2020, according to coverage by KSRO. Council member Esther Lemus – also the deputy district attorney – was the latest to accuse Foppoli with allegations he assaulted her in February and August of last year.
“The reason I am not stepping down is that in this case I know the truth of those experiences,” Foppoli was quoted by KRON 4 as saying in a statement regarding the accusations.
Yet, KRON 4 reported that the allegations have put the entire council in hot water, as the town took no action when the first accusations came to light with a letter it received in 2017 regarding an assault that was alleged to have taken place in 2013. Council member Deb Fudge – who was mayor when the town received that first accusation – spoke with KSRO about receiving that email and forwarding it on to the town attorney and town manager.
“There were no criminal charges filed,” Fudge told KRON 4. “The incident happened before we were – before he was on the council.”
Fudge said that, due to the council’s limited authority, all they could do was vote against him becoming mayor in 2017.
“We did enough. We did what the survivor wanted,” Fudge told KRON 4. “Her wish was that he not be mayor. She didn’t want to file charges at the time.”
Fudge said that while the 2013 assault was “very inappropriate behavior,” it didn’t rise to the criminal level of the incidents that have recently come to light involving other victims.
Foppoli has maintained his innocence throughout, even turning accusations of sexual assault on Lemus in response to her claims, KSRO reported.
Yet, his brother, Joe Foppoli, has joined those who do not give credibility to his claims, according to KSRO. Joe Foppoli has not only come out publicly urging his brother to resign as mayor, he has also taken steps as COO at Christopher Creek Winery in Healdsburg to remove his brother from his position as CEO.
Alerts Sign-up