A.G. Gancarski
That’s the rallying cry of a political committee (Florida Committee for Infrastructure Investment) designed to stop the exploration of selling Jacksonville’s utility in its tracks.
The charge: “Mayor Curry and his buddies are trying to sell JEA behind your back. He has already been caught giving misleading statement to the media about the sale. Executives have already been promised a golden parachute after the sale.”
The timing of the committee is no accident; the joint meeting of the JEA Board and Jacksonville City Council to discuss the sale is at 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Mayor Lenny Curry is open to exploring a sale of JEA, a proposal first floated by Tom Petway — a leading Curry supporter from when the Republican first got into the Mayor’s race.
Petway, leaving the JEA Board in 2017, said it was time to explore privatization.
A draft valuation report commissioned by JEA came to the same conclusion; the final product will be released Wednesday.
City Hall is steeped in drama: the Jacksonville City Council President’s assistant accused Mayor Curry’s chief of staff of “accosting” her on Monday.
That Council President, Anna Brosche, has stated that she wants a referendum as a precondition for exploring a sale, and made a charge that Curry wanted emergency legislation pushed Wednesday to authorize next steps. Curry has denied that.
However, this particular political committee comes from outside of City Hall. Its registered agent and treasurer, Michael Langton and Heather Pullen, both have connections to Lisa King, the chair of the Duval Democrats.
With resistance on City Council to exploring a sale of JEA, and Mayor Curry’s political adversaries sensing an opportunity to score a victory, what is clear is that Wednesday will be a day of confrontation in the City Council chambers.
5 comments
Alicia
February 13, 2018 at 9:02 pm
If curry’s lips are moving…
Max
February 14, 2018 at 7:20 pm
National Republicans borrowed 1.5 trillion dollars from the future to hand out to their rich buddies and now a board of rich buddies are trying to sell off public assets in Jacksonville.
L. Stokes
February 14, 2018 at 7:35 am
The only people who stand to profit from a sale are Curry and his political cronies. Curry’s buddy Petway started this process; the current chairman of the board of JEA has a background in mergers and acquisitions, same for the CEO. Illegal retention bonuses for 67 management at JEA is what started this whole thing – and those were sent out a month before the final report was due. What did JEA management know then that made them scurry to keep all hands on deck?
Steve
February 14, 2018 at 8:18 am
Lying Lenny’s trying to pull a fast one.
Jamie
February 14, 2018 at 9:12 am
How much money does Curry plan to funnel to his buddies behind the Dirty District and Shady Shipyard projects?
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