Carrico suggests ‘big favor’ driving push to replace JEA board member with boss

[outis]

Carrico text suggests 'big favor' driving push to replace JEA board member with boss

By Ben Becker, Action News Jax
February 16, 2026 at 6:08 pm EST

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A text message is raising questions about how one of Jacksonville's most powerful public boards is chosen.

Action News Jax's Ben Becker has obtained a text exchange between Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico and current JEA board member Arthur Adams that appears to show Carrico removing the sitting board member to repay what Carrico called a "big favor" to his boss.

'I owed a big favor'

Five days before introducing legislation on February 10 to replace Adams with Paul Martinez, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida, where Carrico serves as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Carrico sent a text to Adams on February 5 informing him his term would not be renewed.

In that exchange, Carrico wrote:

"What's up bro... hey I owed a big favor to a friend and opted to put him on the JEA board as your term is expiring... Not sure if you wanted to stay but I needed to do this for my guy."

...

Questions of conflict

The text exchange also surfaces amid broader scrutiny of Carrico's dual roles.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida receives more than $12 million annually in city grant funding through Kids Hope Alliance. As Council President, Carrico plays a key role in shaping the city's budget.

State financial disclosures show Carrico's salary from the nonprofit increased from $111,500 in 2021 to $149,000 last year -- more than a 33% rise over four years, including a $32,500 jump in 2023 alone. He also earns $60,000 annually as a council member.

https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/carrico-text-suggests-big-favor-driving-push-replace-jea-board-member-with-boss/33SIBSFN2BFPZMLCASZPN3254Y/

[Charles Hunter]

Corruption? By a MAGA member of City Council? Tell me it ain't so! I am shocked! Shocked I say, to find there is gambling at Ric's corruption there!

[jaxoNOLE]

But...but...the hologram!!

When will our CMs learn not to text about council business? I guess we should thank them, since it keeps blowing up in their face in spectacular fashion.

[copperfiend]

Let's remember that Carrico helped get someone fired for a social media post about Charlie Kirk.

[acme54321]

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2026/feb/19/council-president-kevin-carricos-pick-for-jea-board-withdraws-from-consideration/

Looks like his "big favor" has backfired in a big way.  I'm sure Paul Martinez is not thrilled he is/was in the middle of this mess.

[thelakelander]

^A larger favor is now owed after all of this public embarrassment. So does Adams come back now? What's next?

[Charles Hunter]

^A larger favor is now owed after all of this public embarrassment. So does Adams come back now? What's next?

My guess would be that, since the bill to replace Adams was never passed by the Council, he stays on the Board.

[Papa33]

What an amateur.

[copperfiend]

Councilman under scrutiny after controversial texts involving board member slams JEA, alleges 'racism', 'toxic' culture

News4Jax sums this up well.

Carrico did not provide any examples to back up his allegations.

[Papa33]

It's starting to look like a coordinated attempt to oust the current JEA CEO.

[jaxlongtimer]

Carrico apparently remains a tool of Lenny Curry as they admitted on First Coast Connect that they talk weekly.  So, you can imagine why JEA is front and center for him.  Possibly following Curry's lead to disparage JEA at every turn to bring up selling it again.  Add that Curry could still be licking his wounds and looking for vengeance?

And, people wonder why Jax isn't moving forward more?  All about self and special interests and ego's, not what is good for the community.  Maybe the worst overall City Council since consolidation replaced the corrupt one pre-consolidation.

[jaxlongtimer]

Apple doesn't fall far from the tree... lack of ethics at City Council is at epidemic levels.

Jacksonville City Councilman Raul Arias under investigation by City's Office of Inspector General

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Action News Jax has confirmed that Jacksonville City Councilman Raul Arias is under investigation by Jacksonville's Office of Inspector General.

Sources told Action News Jax's Ben Becker it's because of his reporting in November that led to Arias resigning as chair of the City Council Finance Committee.

We detailed potential conflicts of interest regarding Arias' family being paid $35,000 to cater the installation ceremony of City Council President Kevin Carrico.

In addition, Arias tried to steer a $100,000 grant outside his district and urged a nonprofit to use a company he previously owned, Bold City Media.

Bold City Media also had a short-lived contract with city agency Kids Hope Alliance....

https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/jacksonville-city-councilman-raul-arias-under-investigation-by-citys-office-inspector-general/AOGJ2RW2A5BFVJLRCQHF6KTWSM/

[outis]

so it out carrico's 'big favor' wasn't for his boss... it was for his "mentor" Lenny Curry.

Deegan compares 'smear campaign' against JEA CEO to sales attempt
David Bauerlein
Jacksonville Florida Times-Union
Feb. 20, 2026, 9:13 p.m. ET

Mayor Donna Deegan said a campaign to "smear a faithful public servant" is being waged by politically connected people against JEA CEO Vickie Cavey because Cavey decided against extending a lobbying firm's contract.

"These are the same people who were part of the effort to sell our public utility and frankly who have been responsible for much of the toxic political culture in Jacksonville that people elected me to end," Deegan said Feb. 20 in defense of Cavey.

Deegan did not identify the lobbying firm but JEA recently let a contract expire with Ballard Partners for local and federal lobbying.

Former Mayor Lenny Curry is a partner for Ballard's offices in Jacksonville, Tallahassee and Washington. The managing partner for Ballard's office in Jacksonville is Jordan Elsbury, who was a top member of Curry's staff at City Hall during the attempted sale of JEA in 2019.

Deegan was joined by Cavey and JEA Board Chair Joe DiSalvo at the news conference a day after City Council President Kevin Carrico called for an investigation by JEA of Cavey's leadership.

Carrico said he had fielded numerous calls from JEA employees voicing allegations of "racism, toxic corporate culture and other leadership challenges" associated with her leadership.

DiSalvo said Cavey is facing a disinformation campaign of "bogus claims" aimed at intimidating her into resigning. Cavey had been asked earlier in the week by board member Rick Morales to step down as CEO but decided to continue in the post.

Deegan said the campaign against Cavey "magically appeared after she resisted pressure to renew a lobbying contract with people who are politically connected to a handful of council members including our City Council president."

...

JEA previously said in response to Times-Union questions the decision not to renew the contract with Ballard for local and federal lobbying had nothing to do with Curry being a partner in the firm.

JEA said Jan. 16 the utility had given Ballard notice it wouldn't renew the contact for a second year so it would end on Jan. 31. JEA said it had not used Ballard's consulting services enough to warrant renewal.

JEA separately entered into a new contract with Ballard for consulting services on state-level water consulting services. Curry and Elsbury are partners in Ballard's Tallahassee office but neither are among the Ballard lobbyists engaged by JEA in that contract.

Curry and Elsbury are political allies of Carrico. Ballard Partners organized and raised funds for the swearing-in ceremony that installed Carrico as council president last summer.

...

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2026/02/20/jacksonville-mayor-says-smear-campaign-targets-jea-ceo-vickie-cavey/88783996007/?taid=69992a401693130001139194&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

[jaxlongtimer]

Still more fireworks surrounding Carrico... with JEA.  Setting up round #2 of JEA controversy and inside politics?

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan: Accusations against JEA CEO a 'smear campaign' by ex-Mayor Lenny Curry's lobbying firm
Council President Kevin Carrico claims employees voiced complaints to him about racism and toxic work culture under Vickie Cavey.

Accusations of racism and a toxic work culture at city utility JEA under CEO Vickie Cavey's leadership are a "smear campaign" against Cavey and the JEA for resisting pressure to renew a lobbying contract with a firm with connections to Jacksonville City Council members, Mayor Donna Deegan said Feb. 20.

In a news conference with Cavey and JEA board chair Joseph DiSalvo, Deegan said criticism of Cavey from Council President Kevin Carrico and former JEA chief of staff Kurt Wilson was retribution toward the CEO for declining to extend the contract with Ballard Partners. Ballard Partners employs former Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, a political ally of Carrico, and Jordan Elsbury, Curry's former chief of staff.

JEA entered into a contract with Ballard Partners in February 2025, with an option to extend the agreement by one year for the following three years.

After Curry registered with the city as a lobbyist in November 2025, JEA opted not to extend the contract when it expired on Jan. 31, 2026.

On Feb. 19, Carrico issued a statement accusing Cavey of "racism, toxic corporate culture, and other leadership challenges." Carrico, the Council president, said he made the accusations after "numerous meetings and calls" from JEA employees.

Criticism also came from JEA Chief of Staff Kurt Wilson, who said in a statement to The Florida Times-Union he was fired after he told DiSalvo that for two years he had "counseled the CEO that her treatment of select staff and subordinates was not appropriate. Wilson did not return messages requesting further comment.

"On Wednesday (Feb. 18), I brought my concerns to the board chair and the question was asked, 'Why haven't employees called me?' Twelve hours later my position was eliminated. This is why," Wilson wrote in the statement.

Asked to resign

JEA board Vice Chair Rick Morales asked Cavey to resign as CEO, according to the Times-Union.

During the Feb. 20 news conference, Deegan and DiSalvo defended Cavey against her accusers.

"These are the same people who were part of the effort to sell our public utility," Deegan said. "The fact that those who want to control JEA for money and power are willing to smear a faithful public servant like Vickie is reprehensible, if not surprising. The problem is we've got some local bad actors who would rather go on a retribution and revenge tour than to move our city forward."

Deegan told reporters to "connect the dots" after she was asked about Curry and Elsbury being involved.

After a reporter asked Cavey if she was pressured to extend the contract, Deegan urged Cavey to "tell the truth and shame the devil."

"I would not call it a pressure campaign," Cavey said.

Curry did not return a request for comment made through Ballard Partners.

"That's Wizard of Oz stuff," Elsbury said in a text message. "Doesn't sound like the mayor and the CEO are on the same page."

Cavey denied the allegations of racism and poor morale.

"I'm a very inclusive leader," Cavey said. "I have a strong belief in our field people. Those employees work 24/7, 365 days a year no matter what, and so do I, and it's an honor to serve the city and to serve those people."

DiSalvo said he had heard no concerns from JEA employees about Cavey's leadership. He said that in a recent "soup to nuts" examination of JEA by an outside consultant, "there were no concerns of any morale issues."

"I aggressively circulate throughout the city to talk to our fantastic JEA electric and water wastewater employees...and I get salt-of-the-earth feedback," DiSalvo said. "None of the feedback has ever addressed a negative work environment."

Cavey became the CEO of JEA in September 2024, promoted from an interim role after replacing CEO Jay Stowe.

Cavey, who joined JEA in 1984 as a mechanical engineer, rose to several administrative roles and came out of retirement in March 2024 when the board asked her to serve as a liaison between them and Stowe's administration to review the utility's organizational structure.

Her contract was extended in February 2025, with the JEA board unanimously giving her a 25% pay raise to $700,000 a year.

Board member John Baker III said that although the salary increase "jumps off the page," he believed it was justified given Cavey's performance and leadership ability.

"We have got a really great leader. And it's incumbent on any business that has a great leader to compensate them fairly."...

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2026/feb/20/jacksonville-mayor-donna-deegan-accusations-against-jea-ceo-a-smear-campaign-by-ex-mayor-lenny-currys-lobbying-firm/

Got to love the hypocrisy of Carrico in this quote:

"What is most troubling is Mayor Deegan's direct involvement in what is supposed to be an independent authority. JEA was deliberately structured to operate free from political pressure, yet we are now seeing an unmistakable attempt to inject mayoral influence into decisions that belong to its independent leadership and board. When the independence of our public utility is compromised, every ratepayer should be alarmed – especially given the painful lessons from the attempted sale of JEA."

This after he did the very thing he accused Deegan of by doing a favor for his boss and is continuing to do so with his most recent charges?  And, the quote about the pain from the attempted sale of JEA when it was orchestrated by his guide and BFF, Lenny Curry, who, is once again, front and center in this new controversy?  Really?!

[copperfiend]

We're doing this again, apparently.

I'm glad Mayor Deegan is speaking about it. The city council is a joke.