Jacksonville NAACP urges Council President Carrico to pause JEA board appointment until multiple investigations conclude

Request comes as JEA faces overlapping reviews of governance, finances and workplace allegations

The Jacksonville branch of the NAACP is urging Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico to delay naming the next City Council-appointed member of JEA’s governing board until ongoing investigations and reviews involving the utility and its oversight are completed. The request follows a public dispute over JEA board nominations, the release of text messages tied to a prior nomination effort, and the launch of additional investigative work focused on JEA’s finances and workplace culture.

JEA is governed by a seven-member board. Under the city’s charter framework, four members are appointed by the City Council side of government and three by the mayor, with confirmations proceeding through the City Council’s legislative process. The board is responsible for oversight of the city-owned electric, water and sewer utility.

Background: board nomination controversy and state inquiry

The current dispute traces to a failed effort earlier this year to replace sitting board member Arthur L. Adams Jr. with Paul Martinez, the president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida, where Carrico is employed. Text messages between Carrico and Adams became public in February and included Carrico describing the prospective nomination as connected to a “big favor.” Martinez withdrew from consideration shortly thereafter, and the nomination did not advance to final confirmation.

In parallel, the State Attorney’s Office opened an investigation tied to the board nomination episode and sought communications related to JEA. Carrico’s office has said it is cooperating with records requests.

New and expanded oversight: capacity fees, bond compliance and workplace claims

On March 11, 2026, Carrico announced a new City Council special investigatory committee focused on JEA, formed after the city’s Office of Inspector General requested assistance for a limited-scope project. The Inspector General’s request centered on allegations that JEA may not have adequately collected certain water and wastewater capacity fees from some commercial customers over multiple years and that the potential financial impact should be assessed with support from the City Council Auditor.

The special committee’s charge also includes reviewing JEA and city compliance with bond commitments and reporting requirements and examining claims raised publicly about workplace culture, including allegations of racism and retaliation. JEA’s board has publicly addressed parts of the workplace dispute, including a vote expressing confidence in CEO Vickie Cavey following calls for additional outside review.

NAACP position: timing and integrity of appointments

Against this backdrop, the NAACP is pressing for a pause in filling the City Council-appointed board seat until the ongoing investigations conclude. The organization’s stated concern is that major governance decisions—particularly appointments to JEA’s governing body—should not proceed while allegations involving the appointment process itself and other JEA-related matters remain under active review.

The NAACP’s request focuses on sequencing: completing active investigative processes first, then proceeding with the next appointment under clearer factual findings.

What happens next

• Any new nominee to a City Council-appointed JEA seat would be expected to move through the City Council’s appointment and confirmation process.
• The Inspector General’s review and the City Council special investigatory committee’s work are expected to proceed in the coming weeks, with findings potentially informing future policy actions.
• The state investigation related to the nomination episode remains separate from the city’s inspector general and City Council committee work.

The timing of the next appointment—whether immediate or deferred—will determine whether JEA’s board composition changes while the multiple investigations and reviews continue.