A Santa Clara city councilman facing multiple allegations of sexual harassment and abuse has resigned his seat and suspended his campaign for county supervisor.
Dominic Caserta announced his unconditional departure Tuesday just before a group of alleged victims flooded council chambers to relay their experiences with the councilman and teacher.
"He's a sexual predator,” said Savannah Nunez, a former student of Caserta’s at Santa Clara High School.
Lydia Jungkind, a former student who later went to work on his campaign, said she too had been a victim.
Allegations of inappropriate touching and behavior go all the way back to 2002. Police were reportedly called to the school twice that year to respond to sexual harassment claims against Caserta. The accusations finally came to light last week after his school personnel file was sent to staff with the Santa Clara Unified School District.
Mayor Lisa Gillmor called the councilman’s alleged actions a “stain on the city.” The council unanimously accepted his resignation Tuesday and adopted a new censure policy for council members who violate the council’s code of conduct.
Caserta has denied all of the allegations against him, calling them politically motivated.
"The allegations against me are false in every sense of the word, yet I have been tried and convicted in the court of public opinion, without due process, or recognition of my distinguished service to the school or the city,” he said in a two-page statement, adding that the release of his file had severely hurt his family.
Caserta has served on the city council for more than a decade. He is still teaching at Santa Clara High School.