A.G. Gancarski
Derek Igou, Jacksonville’s first choice for the new director of Neighborhoods, didn’t work out. The problem, we understand, was one of academic credentials.
The Lenny Curry administration is back to the drawing board, and a Thursday email indicates a refinement of job description specs for Neighborhoods head.
“Per our discussion and your directions,” wrote Mousa Thursday to the mayor, “I am in the process of refining the subject position advertisement, adding more clarity to our expectations. I am also indicating the preference of prior law enforcement executive management, as well as experience in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED).”
This could, theoretically, open the door for someone like former Undersheriff Frank Mackesy (part of the mayor’s transition committees), current Undersheriff Pat Ivey, or other leaders in the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
The synergy between Curry and Sheriff Mike Williams, and the comfort level the mayor has with the JSO, is a stark difference to the tension between their predecessors, Alvin Brown and John Rutherford.
Reinstitution of the Neighborhoods department has been a focus for Curry since his campaign, and someone with the stated characteristics would synergize nicely with Curry’s prioritization of public safety.
