A councilmember of a Bay Area city accused Fowler City Councilmember and Orange Cove City Manager Daniel Parra of assaulting her at an event in Florida last year.

Parra faces one count of battery, filed March 10 by the Office of the State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit, which covers Tampa. Court records from Hillsborough County (Florida) show an arraignment scheduled for March 31.

Xouhoua Bowen, a San Leandro councilmember, publicly aired the allegations against Parra during a council meeting on Monday.

“Daniel Para, a member of the city of Fowler City Council physically violated me,” Bowen said from the dais. She did not elaborate on what happened in her comments.

However, in a police report, she alleged that Parra “kissed me on the lips without my consent and without warning” after making a sexually suggestive comment.

The incident allegedly took place Nov. 13, 2024, at a National League of Cities event in Tampa.

“I want to send a very clear statement that such reprehensible behavior is absolutely unacceptable and will be held to account,” Bowen said Monday. “The safety of everyone should be paramount and with the support of my family, my colleagues and the city, we denounce this behavior.

“Finally, I want to say to the women and others holding public office who have experienced bodily violations and acts of harm that you are not alone nor are you powerless.”

Parra declined to talk to GV Wire and referred comments to his Tampa-based attorney, Victoria Hatfield. She did not respond as of time of publication.

Bowen did not respond to messages from GV Wire.

Allegation Details

According to a Tampa Police department report made available by the court, Bowen and Parra were at a location literally called Hotel Bar in downtown Tampa. Both know each other professionally.

“While at a social gathering, I saw defendant and greeted him. We spoke while casually dancing. Defendant made (a) sexually suggestive comment about my appearance. Defendant leaned in and kissed me on the lips without my consent and without warning. Our interaction ended immediately and defendant left the bar shortly after. I left in a state of shock,” Bowen wrote in a signed report.

The event was captured by security cameras, and Bowen positively identified Parra in the video.

Cal Cities Monitoring

Parra served at president of the League of California Cities for the 2023-24 term.

“Cal Cities takes allegations of misconduct very seriously, and we are closely monitoring the situation,” Cal Cities spokesperson Rachel Vincent said.

Parra is on leave from his city manager job.

East Bay Insiders first reported the story.