Jeff Campos resigned Friday as president and chief executive of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Denver, eight days after being arrested on kidnapping and assault charges.
The chamber’s board said it has appointed James Mejia, a recent candidate for Denver mayor and a former Hispanic Chamber executive director, as its interim president and CEO.
Campos, 55, was placed on paid administrative leave after his July 21 arrest at the chamber’s downtown offices on the charges stemming from a domestic-violence-related incident. He was released from the Denver jail the next day on $50,000 bond.
Board chairwoman Debbie Trujillo said she had no idea why Campos resigned but that it was voluntary.
“We are thankful for the six years plus that he gave us,” she said.
Campos, a former insurance executive, started with the chamber in 2005.
Trujillo would not comment on what the loss of Campos meant to the chamber.
The resignation comes three days after Campos’ attorney, Gary Lozow, called the charges “profoundly overblown.” Prosecutors have until Friday to decide whether to formally charge Campos. That’s the same day as Sabor, the chamber’s big annual fundraiser.
Lozow did not return calls Friday seeking comment on Campos’ resignation.
Board member Keith Montoya said he did not know why Campos resigned but did not find it unusual. He said Campos left on his own terms and was not influenced by the board.
Montoya praised the appointment of Mejia.
“Any time you get the caliber of a James Mejia, I don’t know if it’s a negative on any front,” Montoya said.
Mejia said that next week he will focus on preparing for Sabor, the highly regarded festival held at the Denver Botanic Gardens.
“I look forward to the opportunity to go back and work with a great board of directors and a lot of great companies that are looking for business-development opportunities,” Mejia said.
The chamber has commenced a search for a permanent president, which Mejia said will be completed within the next few months. Mejia does not intend to seek the position.
The Hispanic Chamber has more than 2,300 members and is the state’s largest minority chamber.
Justin T. Hilley: 303-954-1064 or jhilley@denverpost.com
