One month after Lynwood City Councilman Edwin Hernandez was forced to step aside from his duties as mayor pro tem, another woman has come forward to accuse the councilman of sexual harassment.
Marisela Santana, 45, was hired as the city’s public information officer in 2012. At the time, Hernandez was the city’s treasurer. A year later, he was elected to the city council and that’s when his inappropriate behavior went from flirtation to harassment, Santana says.
"He wanted us to be more than friends outside of City Hall," Santana recalls. "He wanted something physical, and I said no."
What allegedly followed was a campaign of retaliation against Santana that finally culminated in her ouster in 2016.
"He would go to my supervisor and request that I be removed from projects."
Santana says she complained to Human Resources verbally but did not file a formal complaint for fear of losing her job.
The former city spokeswoman is now being represented by attorney Lisa Bloom. She is also representing another woman who has made similar allegations against Hernandez, Lynwood accounting technician Monica Ochoa. Two other women have reportedly made accusations of sexual harassment against Hernandez, but have not been named publicly.
"This is a dark cloud over us," said Lynwood Mayor Jose Solache. The city takes the allegations very seriously, he added.
Hernandez declined to comment on the latest claims.