JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville City Council president, who is under scrutiny following controversial text messages to a JEA board member, blasted the city-owned utility on Thursday, saying he’s heard multiple allegations of racism and a toxic culture within the organization.
MORE | Council president tells JEA board member he’s replacing him because he owed a ‘big favor’ to his boss, texts show | JEA board nominee withdraws amid criticism over councilman’s text messages citing ‘big favor’ | Support grows for JEA board member amid questions of ‘favor’ Carrico says he owed his boss
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City Council President Kevin Carrico has faced backlash in recent days after text messages seemed to reveal that at least part of his motivation to nominate his boss, Paul Martinez, for a position on JEA’s board happened because he owed him a “big favor.”
Following the backlash and calls for Martinez to withdraw, Martinez bowed out on Wednesday evening. Martinez is the current president and CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida, where Carrico works as the vice president of strategic initiatives.
Carrico introduced a resolution on Feb. 10 to nominate Martinez as a member of the JEA board to replace current board member Arthur Adams Jr., who was appointed to the board in January 2025 and whose term is close to expiring.
“What up bro...hey I owed a big favor to a friend and opted to put him on the JEA Board as your term is expiring,” Carrico wrote to Adams on Feb. 5 in text messages provided by JEA. “Not sure if you wanted to stay but I needed to do this for my guy. Tab is on me when we link up next.👊”
In the text thread, Adams responded that his “plan was to stay.”
After the texts became public, critics spoke out.
In a statement to News4JAX, Jacksonville NAACP President Isaiah Rumlin called the move a “breach of public trust” and later added it was an example of the “Good Ole’ Boy network” being caught red-handed. Councilman Jimm Peluso called the text an example of “corruption at its finest.”
News4JAX contacted Carrico on Thursday to ask more questions about the “big favor” he was referencing in the text message. The councilman didn’t address that question directly, but instead sent a statement that made serious allegations and questioned the leadership of JEA CEO Vickie Cavey.
“Since becoming Council President and as a leader of this community I have unfortunately taken numerous meetings and calls from JEA employees with allegations of racism, toxic corporate culture, and other leadership challenges associated with the CEO,” Carrico wrote. “I am currently having conversations with community leaders interested in addressing these challenges and moving our utility forward. I look forward to announcing a name in the coming days given then [sic] disturbing culture observed at our utility.”
Carrico did not provide any examples to back up his allegations.
News4JAX contacted JEA as well as Cavey to see if they had any comment on Carrico’s statement, but they did not immediately respond.
“I have a vested interest in maintaining the integrity and efficacy of this utility, JEA is an integral part of every day Jacksonville and a vital part of our constituents and business day to day.... My advocacy and endorsement of a community leader, mentor, friend, and highly capable businessman is nothing more than that. As councilman I have been afforded relationships that prove vital to the success and forward movement of our incredible city. This is much to do about nothing, whatever the board decides I of course, will be happy with, but I would be remiss if I didn’t advocate for a true friend and steward of this community,” Carrico continued in his statement.
The JEA board is made up of seven members. Four members are nominated by the Jacksonville City Council president and confirmed by the council; three members are appointed by the mayor of Jacksonville and confirmed by the council. The board of directors then appoints a managing director and CEO, who selects a top tier of management, the leadership team.
Changes to how the JEA board is selected were made in 2020, following a scandal revolving around the proposed sale of JEA that ended with the conviction of former JEA CEO Aaron Zahn on charges of conspiracy and wire fraud.
Previously, it was the mayor’s responsibility to appoint every member of the board, and those selections were approved by the City Council.