Looking back at former mayorโs ties to proposed JEA sale after former utility CEOโs conviction
Former Chief Executive Officer of JEA, Aaron Zahn, found guilty of conspiracy and wire fraud on Friday and could spend 25 years in prison. His Chief Financial Officer, Ryan Wannemacher, was found not guilty. Those who were on hand when the proposed sale of JEA was beginning to play out, are starting to speak out.
Day by day: A look back at the testimony from key witnesses in the trial of two former JEA execs
Jurors in the trial of former JEA executives Aaron Zahn and Ryan Wannemacher are now considering the testimony of more than 30 witnesses, which they heard over the course of 14 days of court proceedings, as they deliberate whether the two men are guilty or not guilty of conspiracy and wire fraud.
Courtroom cleared of public, media for part of last day of testimony in trial of former JEA execs facing fraud charges
It was the final day of testimony in the case against former JEA executives Aaron Zahn and Ryan Wannemacher who are accused of conspiracy and wire fraud in connection with a proposed bonus plan that prosecutors said could have paid out hundreds of millions of dollars if the utility had been sold.
Federal prosecutors rest case against former JEA executives accused in fraud scheme
Federal prosecutors rested their case just after noon on Monday after calling their final two witnesses in their case against former JEA executives Aaron Zahn and Ryan Wannemacher who are accused of conspiracy and wire fraud.
Former JEA board member declines to answer more than two dozen questions related to trial of former JEA executives
Camille Lee-Johnson, the only remaining JEA board member who voted at the July 23, 2019 meeting who has not yet testified at the trial of former JEA executives Aaron Zahn and Ryan Wannemacher, invoked her Fifth Amendment right 26 times during a hearing to determine whether she and two other witnesses would be allowed to testify in front of the juries at the trial.
Former Curry staffer says he had no idea about the potential for huge bonus payouts, a continuing theme in JEA trial
Testimony on Thursday was the first time juries heard from a member of former Mayor Lenny Curryโs staff in the federal case against former JEA CEO Aaron Zahn and former CFO Ryan Wannemacher, who are accused of orchestrating what some are calling the largest attempt to defraud the city of Jacksonville.
Attorney testifies former JEA CEO said he would make $40 million if JEA was sold, and had backing of Mayor Curry
Attorney Stephen Amdur testified that former CEO Aaron Zahn told him he would make $40 million through a controversial bonus plan if JEA were sold and that Zahn had former Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curryโs support.
City lawyer testifies she saw issues with controversial bonus plan for JEA execs, even though she was set to benefit
On Tuesday, city attorneys who worked with JEA on those plans testified they were not aware of how much money executives could make even though one of them could have made millions off of the plan.
Former JEA exec testifies she didnโt speak up about controversial bonus plan because she thought board members knew
There was more insight on Friday into what took place behind closed doors in events that could have led to what some say would have been the biggest scheme to defraud the City of Jacksonville.
Former JEA COO testifies she was surprised bonus plan was approved, knew it could result in huge payouts if JEA was sold
On Thursday afternoon, jurors heard from former JEA executive Melissa Dykes during Day 7 of the fraud and conspiracy trial of former JEA CEO Aaron Zahn and former Chief Financial Officer Ryan Wannemacher
Ex-JEA board chair had no idea plan she voted for could net $345M in bonus payouts if utility was sold: testimony
Former JEA board members continued to testify on Wednesday in the case against two former JEA executives involving what some are calling one of the biggest schemes ever to try to defraud the City of Jacksonville.
Ex-JEA board members testify they wouldnโt have voted for bonus plan if theyโd known about huge potential payouts
The juries for the first time in the federal trial of two JEA executives accused of trying to take millions in personal profits from a proposed sale of the city-owned utility through a controversial bonus plan heard from a former JEA board member on Tuesday.
As city council auditors pushed for answers on controversial bonus plan, they say they got no response from JEA execs
The trial of two JEA executives accused of trying to take millions in personal profits from a proposed sale of the city-owned utility through a controversial bonus plan entered its second week on Monday.
FBI agent continues to detail investigation into ex-JEA execs accused in conspiracy case on Day 3 of trial
FBI special agent Angela Hill, a member of the local public corruption, returned to stand on Friday to describe her work as from the early stages of the investigation into two former JEA executives who are accused in a complex conspiracy.
Sex, barbecue sauce, and corruption: A look back at the most memorable Jacksonville-area political scandals
The JEA scandal rocked the city and two men could face 25 years in federal prison if convicted, but itโs far from the first headline-grabbing politically-connected scandal to hit the Jacksonville area in recent years.
Ex-JEA execs accused of orchestrating Jacksonvilleโs largest fraud scheme layout defense on Day 1 of federal trial
Opening statements will now begin Wednesday in a trial that is expected to last four weeks. Aaron Zahn and Ryan Wannemacher could get up to 25 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
Trial of former JEA execs on track for opening statements Wednesday
Nearly two years after former JEA executives Aaron Zahn and Ryan Wannemacher were indicted on federal charges of conspiracy and wire fraud, prosecutors and defense attorneys will give their opening statements to two juries on Wednesday morning.
How we got here: The federal case against two former JEA executives
A former JEA CEO and his former chief financial officer are preparing to stand trial on federal charges of conspiracy and wire fraud, accused of trying to take millions in personal profits from a proposed sale of the city-owned utility through a controversial bonus plan. Aaron Zahn and Ryan Wannemacher were indicted in March 2022, and after numerous delays, their trial is ready to begin, nearly two years after their charges were announced.
Former JEA CEO said โthe mayorโ backed $40M payout if city-owned utility was sold, attorney testifies
With less than three weeks until former JEA CEO Aaron Zahn faces trial on criminal charges of conspiracy and wire fraud, conflicting stories are emerging about the scuttled sale of the city-owned utility in 2019.
Witnesses for upcoming trial of former JEA execs appear at pre-trial hearing
Outside consultants hired by JEA and the city of Jacksonville as the city-owned utility explored privatization in 2019 provided insight into the scuttled attempt to sell the utility, during testimony at a pre-trial hearing for former JEA executives Aaron Zahn and Ryan Wannemacher.
Weeks before scheduled trial, attorneys for former JEA execs again ask for a delay
Less than two weeks before their trial on federal conspiracy and wire fraud charges is scheduled to begin, attorneys for former JEA executives Aaron Zahn and Ryan Wannemacher are once again asking a judge to delay the start of the proceedings.
Trial for former JEA execs on track for next month, as defense again requests delays
With less than three weeks until the scheduled federal criminal trial of former JEA executives Aaron Zahn and Ryan Wannemacher, prosecutors and defense attorneys were back in a Jacksonville courtroom Wednesday, discussing issues around witnesses, evidence, and jury selection.
Federal judge agrees that prosecutors built case against former JEA execs without protected statements
A federal judge has ruled that two separate juries will be seated for the upcoming trial of former JEA executives Aaron Zahn and Ryan Wannemacher, due to how protected statements may be used during their defense.
Judge denies former JEA CEO Aaron Zahnโs request to move upcoming federal trial
A federal judge has denied a request from former JEA CEO Aaron Zahn to move his upcoming criminal trial from Jacksonville to Tampa, finding their arguments regarding pretrial publicity didn't meet the legal standard required to move a trial.
Federal judge finds prosecutors built case against former JEA execs without using protected statements
A federal magistrate judge has found that the criminal case against two former JEA executives was built without the use of protected statements made by the two, even as defense attorneys had argued that the case was tainted and the indictment needed to be dismissed.
Have statements made to city investigators by JEA executives impacted criminal case? A judge will decide
Recently-filed court documents in the federal case against two former JEA executives accused of creating a lucrative bonus plan that could pay out millions if the utility were sold give new insight into the strategy behind their legal defense.
Former JEA executives in federal court for hearing ahead of October trial
Lawyers for two former JEA executives facing federal charges in connection with the attempted sale of the utility spent over two hours at a hearing Thursday morning questioning the FBI special agent who led the investigation, about how the case was built.
Current, former JEA, city officials to testify at hearing for former JEA executives
A multi-day, pre-trial hearing for two former JEA executives facing federal charges is expected to include testimony from a range of current and former officials with the city of Jacksonville and JEA, later this month.
Failed plan to privatize JEA inspires case study by delegation from African nations
The attempt to privatize JEA is now getting international attention. A delegation from African nations has visited Jacksonville to study ethics and transparency, and itโs using what happened with JEA as a case study.
Former JEA CEO sends letter to city leaders disputing findings of investigation
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Attorneys for former JEA CEO Aaron Zahn have sent a letter to city leaders disputing some of the findings of the investigative report that came out in January. Zahn was fired in late 2019 after it came to light that senior leaders of the utility could have made millions of dollars, through a controversial bonus plan. Zahn and his attorneys have long claimed he is being used as a scapegoat. A separate criminal investigation is underway by federal authorities, but there is no word when that could wrap up. The Florida Times-Union recently reported that a federal grand jury will soon hear from witnesses in the investigation.
Report: Federal grand jury subpoenas witnesses in probe of JEA
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ A federal grand jury will soon hear from witnesses in the investigation of JEAโs efforts to sell the city-owned utility to a private entity, according to a report by the Florida Times-Union. Columnist Nate Monroe cites several sources that numerous grand jury subpoenas have been issued. Attorneys Office has been looking into JEA and the issues surrounding the leadership team and their involvement in the sales plan. Among the findings of a months-long investigation by a special Jacksonville City Council committee was that the effort to sell JEA โran afoul through Aaron Zahnโs greed.โAdFederal prosecutors do not comment on current investigations. Thereโs no official word when the grand jury will take up the matter or how long this investigation could take.
Councilman says money saved by forgoing JEA sale offsets investigation cost
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Some current and former Jacksonville City Council members say the lengthy report released Monday on the failed JEA sale reads like a novel. โAaron Zahn (former CEO of JEA) could not have pulled off the biggest heist in U.S. history by himself. News4Jax checked reports in 2017 regarding JEA and the possibility of a sale and talking with those involved at the time. Two people close to the investigation who raised questions then told News4Jax this report is right on the money. The report suggests Curry was pushing for the sale from the start.
City Council investigation finds effort to sell JEA โran afoul through Aaron Zahnโs greedโ
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The final report by a special Jacksonville City Council committee formed to investigate a botched attempt to sell the JEA in 2019 calls the plan greedy and found that it cost the city millions of dollars. The 132-page report released Monday morning was the result of 10 months of committee work, including witness testimony, and prepared by an attorney for the City Council. The report says the compensation plan โran afoul through Aaron Zahnโs greed.โ In closing, the report says โThe ultimate cost to JEA and the City was millions of dollars. The truth around JEAโs strategic planning process is complex and definitively involved the Mayor, City Council, the entire Board, OGC and countless strategic advisors. He applauds the City Council investigation on JEA and says the report points to three huge problems.
City committeeโs JEA report should be complete by monthโs end
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ It wont be until the end of December that we could find out more about what happened with JEA and the botched sales plan. It was almost a year ago when many of the problems with the proposed JEA sale surfaced and eventually led to the firing of now ex-CEO Aaron Zahn and the JEA leadership team. RELATED: JEAโs new CEO: โTime for us to move forwardโOn Monday members of the Jacksonville City Council committee looking into what happened met for its final time. It was revealed that the committeeโs report should be ready by the end of the month and it will be made public on Jan. 11. Federal Investigators are also looking into the JEA matter as well.
New CEO of JEA believes restoring trust is a necessity on internal, external levels
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Jay Stowe officially began the job Monday as managing director and CEO of JEA. Stowe said he focuses on three things: public health, public safety and economic development. He calls JEA foundational to the community and believes restoring trust is a necessity both on the internal and external levels. He will work to appoint a new management team and work with a gradually changing JEA board. โThe idea of when or whether we need a rate increase starts with managing the systems really well.
JEAโs new CEO: โTime for us to move forwardโ
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The new head of JEA says the city-owned utility is ready to move forward. Jay Stowe, who was just hired two weeks ago, talked to the JEA board virtually during its meeting Tuesday morning. Stowe did not mention former CEO Aaron Zahn, who was fired by the board in January after the botched exploration of a JEA sale. โWe will work to develop a senior team," Stowe told the board. Also, the board voted to spend $2.4 million to buy land downtown in order to build a second headquarters.
New JEA CEO to make $560K a year, will not participate in bonus plan
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ News4Jax is learning more about how much money JEA is going to pay its new CEO. On Monday, an agreement was released that shows newly selected Jay Stowe will be paid $560,000 a year to run the city-owned utility. Stowe will not be entitled to any other incentive compensation and will not participate in the JEA bonus plan like other employees. Stowe was selected by the board at the end of last month. McElroy was brought in when former CEO Aaron Zahn was fired by the board in January for his role in the failed attempt to sell JEA.
Jacksonville voters approve JEA ballot measure
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Jacksonville voters have spoken, and they want the City Council to have a say in who sits on the board of directors for JEA. The majority of voters approved an amendment to the cityโs charter that empowers the City Council to appoint and remove four members of the city-owned utilityโs board of directors. Previously, the charter held that it was up to the mayor to appoint all seven board members and the council confirmed those appointments. Duval County Referendum - JEA board member appointment โShall the Jacksonville charter be amended ... to (1) grant to City Council the executive power to appoint and remove four members of the JEA Board and (2) amend the qualifications of board members?" The abandoned plan to find suitors for the utility is under investigation by both the City Council and the U.S. Attorneyโs Office.
Board names Jay Stowe as next CEO of JEA
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ During a Monday night special meeting, the JEA board picked Jay Stowe as the next CEO of the utility. Stowe is the chief executive officer and founder of Stowe Utility Group LLC, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was chosen over the two other finalists -- John Lewis Hairston, the chief operating officer of Bonneville Power Administration in Portland, Oregon, and Morgan K. OโBrien, the former chief executive officer and president of Peoples Gas. Stowe will take over for Paul McElroy who was called in to replace Melissa Dykes, who herself replaced embattled former CEO Aaron Zahn. Zahn was fired by a different JEA board in January following his role in the controversial failed plan to sell the city-owned utility.
Narrowing in: JEA Board down to three finalists for CEO position
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ JEA is one step closer to finding its next CEO. On Tuesday, the JEA board of directors interviewed the three finalists for the utilityโs open CEO position. Zahn was fired by a different JEA board in January following his role in the controversial failed plan to sell the city-owned utility. โI think we have a tough decision,โ said John Baker, JEA Board Chairman. They will then turn in their rankings sometime in the next two days and the board will look to make its final decision on a CEO by Friday.
JEA consultant says controversial baseball trip was just a social outing
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Another player in the JEA saga was questioned about what happened during the city-owned utilityโs failed sales attempt. Tim Baker, a political consultant for Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, was questioned last month by an attorney for the City Council investigative committee about the role he played in the botched JEA sale. Zahn said that he flew to Atlanta on a plane provided by Conventus, LLC, a company co-managed by Baker. Sam Mousa, who recently retired from that position and is listed in public records as a co-manager of Conventus LLC, was also there. The testimony is being reviewed by a City Council committee looking into JEA and the practices surrounding the potential sale.
Former city administrator: There was no plot to sell JEA
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Testimony released Wednesday reveals what Mayor Lenny Curry and his staff may have known prior to the plan to try and sell JEA. Curryโs former Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa was interviewed for that committee and he said there was no plot by the mayor to sell JEA outright. SPECIAL SECTION | Tracking the JEA sagaMousa was questioned by an attorney hired by the investigative committee looking into JEA. Mousa said Curry never said at any time that he was going to sell JEA. One JEA employee was reprimanded for leaking some confidential documents to City Council members and JEA has made changes in how those documents are stored.
Meet the 6 semi-finalists vying to become JEAโs next CEO
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The firm leading the search for JEAโs next chief executive officer has narrowed the list of candidates down to six semi-finalists. The semi-finalists include:Elaina Ball , the interim chief operating officer for El Paso Electric in El Paso, Texas, who previously served as chief operating officer for Austin Energy in Austin, Texas. John Hairston , the chief operating officer for Bonneville Power Administration in Portland, Oregon, whose previous role was the utilityโs chief administrative officer. Morgan OโBrien , an industry veteran who previously worked as chief executive officer of Peoples Gas, a natural gas provider in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky. These semi-finalists are vying to replace McElroy, the interim chief executive officer who took over after the ouster of former CEO Aaron Zahn.
FP&L parent would have paid $11 billion for JEA
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The parent of Florida Power & Light would have paid more than $11 billion for JEA had the city-owned utilitys leadership gone through with a scuttled effort to put the utility up for sale. The bonuses executives were going to get were based on false information provided to the board, Diamond said. I dont think the JEA board knew at the time what they were voting on. Instead, the City Council, Civic Council and Unions hijacked the conversation for their own personal benefit. The disparaging and defamatory political rhetoric towards me by JEA, OGC, JEAs counsel and City Council is transparent scapegoating to everyone.
City Council member withdraws bill on JEA bonus, incentive programs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ A bill that would have given Jacksonville City Council the power to approve or deny bonus or incentive programs for JEA employees has been withdrawn from consideration. The bill, which had been part of the consent agenda for Tuesday nightโs council meeting, basically said any incentive plans going forward would have to be approved by both the JEA Board and the City Council. But Councilman Ron Salem told News4Jax he worked out an agreement with JEA officials instead and decided to withdraw the bill. Despite the ongoing inquiries, the JEA Board of Directors approved a new employee incentive plan in June as part of its budget request to City Council. The previous incentive plan was put on pause for 2020 amid the controversy over the PUP.
Councilmember accuses former JEA CIO of destryoing senstive documents
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. A City Council investigative committee looking into the failed bid to sell JEA revealed new information on Monday about an interview with a former member of the leadership team at the city-owned utility. According to its investigation, crucial information may have been intentionally destroyed on the personal device of the former JEA Chief Operating Officer. Some council members like Rory Diamond said that is criminal. Former JEA Chief Information Officer admits to intentionally putting the wrong password into then-Chief Operating Officer Melissa Dykes tablet destroying all documents there on. The JEA investigative committee plans to issue subpoenas Baker, Mousa, former JEA board member Alan Howard and Michael Munz, an executive at the Dalton Agency, to testify in the investigation.
JEA fires 9 former executives. But they will still get paid for 20 weeks
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ In his first major move since taking charge of JEA, interim Chief Executive Officer Paul McElroy placed the majority of the utilityโs leadership team on paid administrative leave last month. On Monday, JEA confirmed that nine executives were terminated without cause, according to JEA. The executives will receive 20 weeks of compensation and health benefits, JEA said. โJEA is focused on moving forward with building back the trust of the community, its customers and employees,โ JEA said. โIndividually or collectively, real or perceived, you have been complicit or implicitly involved with or simply a direct beneficiary of the (Invitation to Negotiate) or Performance Unit Plan,โ McElroy said in part.
Former JEA CEO fighting for private meditator to decide contract dispute
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The ousted CEO of JEA fired back this week in response to a lawsuit filed against him by the city-owned utility. JEA filed a lawsuit in early June after Zahn filed a demand for arbitration with the American Arbitration Association to overturn the JEA boards decision to fire him without termination benefits. In the lawsuit, JEA alleged Zahns contract, including a provision that allows for arbitration, was unenforceable. JEA claimed Zahns contract was against Florida law because of an illegal retroactive salary increase in the contract. Mr. Zahn is proud to be the first CEO of JEA to tell the community the unvarnished truth.
JEA Board restores bonus plan for employees
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ JEA employees are once again in line for a bonus after the city-owned utilityโs board of directors approved a measure Tuesday restoring an incentive plan that was put on pause for 2020. The bonus structure the old JEA board approved last came under scrutiny because of a separate Performance Unit Plan, or PUP, that would basically have been a stock purchase plan that could have financially benefited executives and others in the event that JEA was sold. The plan and the effort to sell the utility sparked controversy last fall and JEA is now under city and federal investigations. Besides Zahn, it led to the resignation of former Chief Legal Officer Lynne Rhode and the dismissal of former CFO Ryan Wannemacher. In April, the Boardโs replacements voted unanimously to remove interim CEO Melissa Dykes, a longtime executive who served as chief operating officer during Zahnโs stint running JEA.
JEA interim CEO places 8 executives on leave
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ In his first major move since taking charge of JEA, interim Chief Executive Officer Paul McElroy has placed the majority of the utilityโs leadership team on paid administrative leave. โIndividually or collectively, real or perceived, you have been complicit or implicitly involved with or simply a direct beneficiary of the (Invitation to Negotiate) or Performance Unit Plan,โ McElroy said in part. The shakeup comes as JEA faces intense scrutiny from the Department of Justice and a City Council special committee. In April, the boardโs replacements voted unanimously to remove interim CEO Melissa Dykes, a longtime executive who served as chief operating officer during Zahnโs stint running JEA. As part of the same move, seven individuals will join the utilityโs senior leadership team on a temporary basis:Stephen Datz, Interim Chief Information OfficerBruce Dugan, Interim Chief Communication OfficerRicky Erixton, Interim General Manager, Electric SystemsAngie Hiers, Interim Chief Human Resource OfficerAlan McElroy (no relation), Interim Chief Supply Chain OfficerHai Vu, Interim General Manager, Water/Wastewater SystemsWayne Young, Chief Environmental OfficerMcElroy announced last month that Hiers, along with two others, would be temporary additions to his leadership staff.
JEA sues fired CEO Aaron Zahn
The lawsuit alleges Zahn committed fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, breached the public trust and made false representations to the JEA board in his hiring process. โDespite being ordered not to do so, Zahn continued to work toward positing JEA for a sale,โ according to the lawsuit. DOCUMENT: JEA v. Aaron Zahn | SPECIAL SECTION: I-TEAM stories on JEA scandalZahnโs lawyer, John Mullen, JEAโs legal team is trying to cover their own tails because they were full participants in JEAโs controversial policy decisions last year. He has long been critical of the PUP and spoke with News4Jax about the City Council investigative committee looking into JEA. JEAโs lawsuit demands a jury by trial.
In final speech, fired interim JEA CEO speaks publicly about FBI investigation for first time
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Interim CEO and former JEA President Melissa Dykes was fired Tuesday in the first meeting of the agencyโs new Board of Directors. "I think itโs made worse by the fact that the FBI has decided to dig into an investigation of JEA and that past administration. Dykes, an employee of JEA for eight years, was fired without cause meaning she will receive 20 weeks severance pay totaling $162,132. Former JEA CEO Aaron Zahn was paid approximately $2,000 a day on administrative leave, according to JEA spokeswoman Gina Kyle, as city attorneys investigated whether they had evidence to fire him with cause. Baker said he will appoint the current Vice President of Energy, Caren Anders, to take over as interim JEA CEO while the board begins its search for a new permanent CEO.
Federal subpoena issued for records linked to attempted sale of JEA
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ A federal grand jury has issued a subpoena to JEA, seeking records related to the scuttled attempt to sell the city-owned utility. DOCUMENT: Read a copy of the federal subpoena issued to JEAThe performance unit plan, or PUP, would have acted like a stock purchase plan. Curry said he learned of the subpoena Wednesday evening from the cityโs Office of General Counsel. Diamond told News4Jax on Thursday that itโs clear the federal subpoena is zeroing in on JEAโs senior leadership team. City attorneys said they found 24 causes to fire Zahn, including evidence he altered a PowerPoint from a consultant.
22 subpeonas issued in City Council probe of JEA
Committee Chairman Diamond said from the beginning of the probe earlier this year he planned to subpoena the bidders and find out who their lobbyists were. Meeting via a Zoom video conference on Tuesday, The Rules Committee unanimously approved issuing 22 subpoenas. The Rules Committee UNANIMOUSLY approved 22 subpoenas to the JEA bidders and investment banks. โHonest to God, this is embarrassing to you and JEA,โ DeFoor said last month. The committee plan to look through documents to see if JEA leadership started looking into the potential privatization of the city-owned utility before it was approved by the JEA Board of Directors.
โThis is nutsโ: Investigative committee accuses JEA of dragging its feet on public records requests
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Jacksonville City Council members leading an investigation into JEAโs failed bid to sell the city-owned utility kicked off the special investigating committee meeting on Monday by calling out delays in public records requests sent to JEA. Councilmembers Rory Diamond, Randy DeFoor and Brenda Priestly Jackson all expressed their frustration to JEA lawyers that their public records requests from more than a month ago have produced zero documents so far. The committee plan to look through documents to see if JEA leadership started looking into the potential privatization of the city-owned utility before it was approved by the JEA Board of Directors. The committee also heard from former JEA executive Mike Brost and current Vice President Steven McInall. The committee wants to know more.
Ex-board chair name-dropped lawmaker in pitch for JEAโs business
Howard resigned from JEAโs board of directors after the July 23 meeting. As the Florida Times-Union reported, his law firm was hired a month later to provide legal counsel for JEA and was paid $75,000. I anticipate that I will be the primary resource, but I have included one associate from my team and my law partner who does government relations work. He remembered Howard expressed interest in working with JEA and that he recommended Howard clear it with General Counsel Jason Gabriel. He said Zahnโs recollection of that conversation likely was based on what Howard might have told Zahn.