Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Manley Quits Chamber Post After Bank Board Firing

Robert Manley, fired earlier this month as president of Valencia National Bank, has resigned as president of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Manley, fired June 1 by bank board members who stated they were unhappy with the bank’s financial performance, said he plans to take legal action against the board. He said he submitted his resignation Wednesday to the chamber because several members of the organization are on the bank board.

“Since as chamber president I am acting as a spokesman for all members, including members of the chamber with whom I would be an adversary,” he said, speaking from his home, “I think integrity would indicate that I resign.”

Manley, 51, had served six months as the chamber’s president.

He contends he was terminated from the bank because he was getting tough about collecting delinquent loans made to former and current board members.

In addition, he said resigning the chamber post will give him more time to look for a new job.

“It may or may not be in the Santa Clarita Valley,” he said. “I hope it is.”

The resignation was not encouraged by the chamber, said Executive Vice President Viki Rudolph.

“On the contrary, we have been reinforcing his position and telling him we wanted him to stay,” she said. “There were a lot of things he was doing, a lot of projects.”

Gary Johnson, owner of a computer business and a longtime chamber member, has been named the new chamber president, Rudolf said.

Robert Manley,