Jaxport CEO takes $2,600 trip to Colombia

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jaxport's CEO is back in town after taking an overseas trip with the Governor to drum up support for our area. Action News has learned it cost Jaxport $2,600 to send its CEO to Colombia.

Paul Anderson was already offered a job at the port in Tampa. That has some questioning his motives on this trip.

Anderson is just 2 years into a 3-year contract at Jaxport that pays a $320 thousand per year.

Action News asked the mayor if he was concerned about the money spent or whether Anderson might take any business with him to Tampa. Mayor Alvin Brown answered, "I can't imagine he's doing it for Tampa. I think he's doing it for Jacksonville. He's been working -- this isn't his first mission with the Governor."

A Jaxport spokesperson tells us, if Anderson takes the other job, they will try to get the money back for the Colombia trip from Tampa. Our calls to the Tampa Port Authority were not returned.