John Allen Newman, former Alvin Brown endorser, reappointed to JAXPORT board

Confounding the critics who charged Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry with practicing “scorched earth politics” in his recent decisions regarding positions on Independent Authority boards, the Curry administration is preparing legislation to appoint Reverend John Allen Newman to the JAXPORT board, according to an email from Curry to senior staff.

As well, Curry is appointing John Baker, the former co-chair of the Port Task Force, to the same board.

“Keep up the good work. Our boards are getting stronger,” Curry wrote on Wednesday to Jordan Elsbury and Kerri Stewart.

Newman, who appeared at various events with former Mayor Alvin Brown during the concluded mayoral campaign, is one of a group of influential African-American pastors to show Curry tangible support during the first couple of months of his administration.

In August, Newman said,  about Curry’s first few weeks in office that the mayor was “doing a great job,” the reverend said, “of reaching out to the entire community.”

Newman added that with the election being over, the goal among everyone was to “come together,” do “what’s best for the city,” and “heal and be one.”

Newman, a Jacksonville pastor, was first appointed by Brown in 2011 to the JAXPORT board.

As well, a familiar face from the Port Task Force has moved over to the board, in the form of John Baker, a co-chair of the Task Force from its inception.