JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A new watchdog transparency group, Our Jax, is working to make sure the process of choosing JEA’s future leaders is transparent.
‘Our Jax’ was born following the controversy surrounding the possible sale of JEA in 2019. The group says its goal is to hold city government accountable into the future.
“We want to learn lessons from JEA, we want to continue to monitor that situation closely,” said Our Jax board member Audrey Moran.
Action News Jax learned Friday some individual members of the group made suggestions to Mayor Lenny Curry’s office for who should be appointed to serve on the board in the future.
“I’m not at liberty to disclose who those are, but we are trying to provide the mayor with names of great community leaders, we think could provide a fresh start for JEA,” said Moran.
A spokesperson with the mayor’s office tells us in a statement, “We appreciate the suggestions and consider them carefully as we move forward in this process.”
Our Jax isn’t your typical watchdog group.
The 501(c)(4)’s board of directors includes former JEA executive Mike Hightower, retired CSX CEO Michael Ward and other leaders from around Jacksonville. Moran has previously served as CEO of Jacksonville’s Sulzbacher Center, and has run for mayor.
“What we want to do is build good government, use all the tools that are at our disposal to make sure that government is accountable to, and works for, the people of Jacksonville,” said Moran.
Taxpayers like Leroy Mincey say more accountability for the city and JEA, could be a good thing.
“It should have been from day one,” said Mincey. “I’m disappointed in what I’ve been hearing, so anything that’s going to make people more accountable, is absolutely a tremendous idea.”