Tucker Bounds, spokesman for Whitman, called Armstrong’s complaints “the unsubstantiated claims of a lone employee who worked in the Whitman household for just a few weeks 12 years ago.”

He said many other employees “have worked for Meg and Griff over the years and enjoyed a very positive experience.”

Armstrong said she was a registered Democrat in San Mateo County until last year and has since moved to Santa Clara County, where she has not yet registered to vote. She added that she is not associated with the campaign of Whitman’s opponent in the Nov. 2 election, Attorney General Jerry Brown, Brown’s surrogates or union groups. She said is not receiving compensation or any kind of incentive to tell her story.

Armstrong said she came forward because she believed Whitman viewed domestic help as “disposable.”

“We’re raising their kids, and we deserve respect,” she said.