A.G. Gancarski
Expect an appointment heavy agenda at Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting, as the Lenny Curry administration introduces nine appointments via the following bills.
- 2015-602: Jacksonville Port Authority – Appointment of John Rood
- 2015-603: Jacksonville Aviation Authority – Appointment of Jay Demetree
- 2015-604: Jacksonville Aviation Authority – Appointment of Russell Thomas
- 2015-605: Art in Public Places – Appointment of Tracie Thornton
- 2015-606: Art in Public Places – Appointment of Lea Mahan
- 2015-607: Art in Public Places – Appointment of Mary Harvey
- 2015-608: JCC – Reappointment of Leanna Cumber
- 2015-609: Library Board of Trustees – Reappointment of Timothy Anderson
- 2015-610: Library Board of Trustees – Reappointment of Sybil Ansbacher
Many of these appointments have strong institutional ties. Rood and Demetree are prominent local Republicans, both of whom have been strong supporters of Curry.
Leanna Cumber is the wife of Husein Cumber, a Jacksonville Electric Authority board member and VP of Florida East Coast Industries, who was a fundraising Ranger for George W. Bush‘s reelection campaign.
Administration critics are squawking about the changes of faces on these boards. Departures have included Melody Bishop, wife of former Mayoral candidate Bill Bishop, who sent the Curry administration a notably effusive letter pledging support to Curry, as she announced her resignation with a “heavy heart.”
Bishop said to the Jacksonville Daily Record she initially considered that politics played a role in Curry’s decision, but later thought otherwise.
“That would be silly,” she said. “He doesn’t seem like the vindictive type.”
