Chamber President John Kennedy arrested

Interim Maricopa Chamber of Commerce President and CEO John Kennedy was arrested on either Dec. 14 or Dec. 15, according to the Maricopa Police Department.

No other details about the arrest, including the charges, have been released. InMaricopa.com filed a public records request for information Thursday and requested it be expedited Friday.

Mike Richey, chamber vice chairman, said Kennedy will remain in his position until the board has elections and can select a permanent president and CEO.

Richey would not give any details Friday on Kennedy’s arrest, referring to it as “a mistake.”

He described Kennedy as being a “very, very effective” president since he was elected to the position in October. As an example, Kennedy reinstated automatic membership payments, Richey said.

Richey said Kennedy retained his position because, “When somebody makes a mistake, it depends on their reaction to that mistake.”

Kennedy replaced Jim McMichael, who said he was asked to resign by Chairman John Donohue and Richey in September after six months in the position.

McMichael said he believed the request stemmed in part from “philosophical differences” and an unwillingness to engage in politicking.

Maricopa City Councilman Leon Potter, who at the time was also the chamber treasurer, resigned from the board in protest, saying at the meeting during which Kennedy was elected the action was not in compliance with chamber bylaws.