Melody Bishop leaves Downtown Investment Authority, pledges “support” to Curry

Another day, another departure of an Alvin Brown political appointee. Wednesday’s edition: Melody Bishop, the wife of one-time mayoral candidate Bill Bishop, from the Downtown Investment Authority board.

In a letter to Jordan Elsbury, the Director of Appointments and Special Projects for the Lenny Curry administration, Bishop, “with heavy heart,” offers her resignation “effective immediately.”

She wanted the opportunity to meet with Curry, yet “understand[s] that he believes that it is in the best interest of his administration for immediate resignation.”

She goes on to stress her “commitment” to Jacksonville and downtown, and “of course therefore the success of Mayor Curry, who I fully support.”

She then goes on to assert “that a conversation with Mayor Curry would help bring to light that I stand ready to help move his vision along,” and that she still “welcome[s] the chance to meet with him” as she is “convinced that there are many avenues to which [she] can bring value to him and his administration.”

Contacted by phone on Wednesday afternoon, Curry’s spokesman, Bill Spann, said, “Boards, commissions, and independent authorities are extremely important, and the mayor is looking for individuals who share his vision for a vibrant downtown and Jacksonville’s future.”

Curry intends, Spann said, to “appoint people who are committed to solutions that bring the highest value to taxpayers.”

Spann noted, also, that “appointments are neither personal nor political,” and that “every decision is focused on the best results for the city’s future.”

The resignation letter, dated Aug. 18, came one day after Bill Bishop attended the Duval County Republican Executive Committee meeting.

That evening, in response to a request for comment from this outlet, Bishop texted blunt criticism of former party Chairman Robin Lumb by way of endorsing Lake Ray‘s election: “Robin presided over a very divisive period for the Duval GOP the likes of which I hope we never see again. I believe Lake is the right person to lead the party in a unified way.”