"I am fighting to clear my name and restore my reputation following a $943,000 so-called "investigation" that sought to prove sexual harassment. This was an investigation by a law firm that showed bias throughout but, most significantly, failed fairness standards on a handful of serious allegations."
"A senior member of staff filed an internal complaint with Valley Water's Board of Directors in February 2025 about bias ingrained in the report. These cases of significant bias led to findings that ignored exculpatory information and context while focusing on testimony described in some instances as not fully credible."
"A larger share of the report was a pile-on of annoyances and petty grievances that did not merit any investigation, much less a nearly $1million probe."
Rick Callender resigned as CEO of Santa Clara County's Valley Water on March 1 following an investigation that corroborated multiple allegations of workplace and ethics policy violations, including sexual harassment. Before his resignation, the board voted to retain him as a special adviser for one year at his $512,886 salary. Callender, who became the agency's first African American CEO in May 2020, framed his departure as retirement. Subsequently, he released a statement disputing the investigation's findings, claiming the $943,000 investigation by an external law firm showed bias, failed fairness standards, and included petty grievances unworthy of investigation. He asserts he is fighting to clear his name and restore his reputation.
#ceo-resignation #workplace-harassment-investigation #ethics-violations #water-agency-governance #investigation-bias-dispute
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