Note: In October 2023, North County Pipeline and others reported the Escondido Chamber of Commerce fired Chief Executive Officer James Rowten on claims of embezzlement, destroying records and more. All the employees from the chamber were fired in the fallout, although at least one was rehired.
Upon further investigation and follow-up with sources, no formal investigation or evidence has ever been produced to Escondido police or the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office. At least 10 board members have resigned and questions have gone unanswered regarding the allegations of Rowten’s alleged behavior.
North County Pipeline believes Rowten did not commit any crime, nor would he deliberately hurt the chamber, the city of Escondido or local businesses as alleged, or in any capacity as he led the chamber into an era of prosperity and growth. Upon these revelations, North County Pipeline is correcting the record and below is Rowten detailing his final months and days with the Escondido Chamber of Commerce.
This is as much a cry for justice as it is for redemption.
Over eight months ago my reputation was forever sullied by accusations of embezzlement and wiping clean the business hard drive. There have been further stories of falsehoods perpetuated by the Chamber Board Chair Deanna Smith and legal counsel advising the Chamber.
None of these accusations/lies were true despite a thorough review of Chamber accounting by Smith and others. All Chamber finances were in order and approved by the Executive Committee as is required by the Bylaws. Our budget had been scrutinized by the ExCom and further reviewed by the full-board and approved by that Board. These are the facts.
If allowed and not interfered with the Chamber would have met its obligations and performed to the approved budget per plan. We simply could not without the full positive support of the full Board. The Chamber was well on its way to a new and sustainable future until Smith began a smear campaign against me and other members of the Board but in the end it was me who was the target of her wrath.
