What seemed to be a minor flap involving an appointment to the JEA board of directors has spread quickly and now has become a criminal investigation.
But the key point is that connecting the dots in the matter brings up a familiar name: Lenny Curry.
The former mayor now is employed at Ballard Partners, a lobbying firm.
That firm had a contract to do lobbying for JEA. But it was terminated Jan. 31 by Vicki Cavey, head of JEA, the city-owned electric and water utility.
The next dot was when Kevin Carrico, president of the City Council, texted JEA board member Arthur Adams. He told Adams that he owed a favor to a friend (his boss) and wanted to appoint his friend to the seat Adams held, which was up for reappointment.
When that exchange leaked, the friend – Paul Martinez — withdrew his name. In the end, Carrico named Randy Wyse, former head of the firefighter’s union.
Martinez is not only Carrico’s friend but also his boss at the Boys and Girls Club. Action News, which has led the media inquiry, has reported the interesting information that Carrico recently got a big raise and also has noted that the city has given the club millions of dollars in grants.
Under a new procedure, adopted after the Zahn scandal, the council has four appointments to the seven-member board, giving it more control than previously.
Then a board member who is anti-Cavey, and who was in line for chairman was passed up, and Adams was named vice chairman in his place.
In the meantime, a former chef of staff began berating what he called the “toxic culture” at JEA under Cavey. This happened after Cavey eliminated the position he held.
Soon, the state attorney began an investigation and issued a subpoena for records Carrico had related to the JEA board appointment.
The Ballard-Carrico connection is that Ballard paid for Carrico’s lavish installation as council president last year and was lobbying for JEA. Carrico critic Matt Carlucci said it was the most extravagant installation ceremony he has ever seen, and he’s been around a long time.
Next, Mayor Donna Deegan, who had been trying to stay out of the controversy because she thought it was a council matter, held a press conference to denounce the whole business and defend Cavey.
Deegan replaced Curry, who had appointed his friend Aaron Zahn to be JEA’s CEO. Almost immediately, Zahn began “exploring” the idea of selling the utility. During that process a system was put in place that would have put millions of dollars in the hands on JEA executives. Zahn wound up in prison.
So is Curry, who was mayor from 2015 to 2023, the connection or is it just coincidence that he works for a company caught in the middle of the mess?
Observers are wondering, is this just an attempt to revive the sale of the JEA? Or an effort to gain political control over the JEA board? Or payback for the cancellation of a contract? Or all of the above?
Only in Jacksonville City “Haul” could such a convoluted set of events take place. Investigators seeking to unravel all the threads have their work cut out for them.
