JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Newly released, unredacted text messages from outgoing Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico show him discussing a potential land deal involving utility JEA and the Boys & Girls Clubs, raising fresh questions about whether political appointments and the utility’s property decisions were linked.
The unredacted messages, obtained by News4JAX and the Florida Tribune from the state attorney’s office, mention JEA-owned land in Nassau County and include a message that reads in part: “Hi — any word on the Nassau County property? They are checking with the CEO to see if a donation of the land is still in play.”
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Florida Tribune Executive Editor Nate Monroe said the fuller texts help explain why prosecutors subpoenaed JEA for records related to the land discussions.
“I think it’s fair to read his texts and come away thinking that, Carrico made a connection between his appointment of his boss to the JEA board and the consummation of this land deal for the Boys and Girls Clubs Nassau County partner,” Monroe said. “When you put the whole text together, I don’t think you have to squint very hard to see an interpretation that Carrico was naming his boss to the board to consummate a $1 million land deal for his nonprofit.”
City Council attorneys initially released a version of Carrico’s messages with redactions, saying the omitted portions contained personal, nonpublic communication. The state attorney’s office provided records without those redactions to News4JAX and the Florida Tribune.
The messages revive scrutiny of Carrico’s earlier effort to have Paul Martinez, his boss at the Boys & Girls Clubs, appointed to the JEA board. JEA ultimately dropped its pursuit of the Nassau County property in 2023.
“When you put the whole text together, I don’t think you have to squint very hard to see an interpretation that Carrico was naming his boss to the board to consummate a $1 million land deal for his nonprofit.”
Attorneys for Carrico and Martinez say the unredacted texts do not show wrongdoing. They contend the land discussions were aimed at securing property for a Boys & Girls Club teen center and deny any quid pro quo or “pay for play.”
Monroe said the released texts are likely a piece of a broader investigation and that many questions remain, including the scope of inquiries by the state attorney’s office and a separate subpoena issued by the Florida attorney general.
“We haven’t seen transcripts of interviews or other evidence they may have gathered,” he said. “I want to know more about how the council president discussed and pursued this potential land donation.”
As the council transitions to new leadership, incoming Council President Nick Howland said he plans to restructure oversight of JEA. Howland said he will form a select committee focused on unbilled water capacity fees at JEA and expects the panel to complete its work in about two months.
“It’s to shift the council’s role from investigation to oversight,” he said.
The newly released messages provide a rare look behind closed discussions between local officials and nonprofit leaders and could shape how the City Council approaches oversight of JEA under its new leadership.