JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville’s Finance Committee voted Tuesday to subpoena former JTA CEO Nat Ford to appear Friday as council members seek answers about the agency’s financial troubles.
Ford appears to be preparing to appear voluntarily before the committee to answer questions.
The vote was not unanimous, with one member abstaining, following discussion about the timing and urgency of the subpoena.
Council members want to know how a transportation authority that posted budget surpluses for years became insolvent, leading to the layoffs of nearly 200 people.
“I don’t think this is a witch hunt,” Council President Nick Howland said.
Councilmen Chris Miller and Rory Diamond said they reached out to Ford before the meeting to invite him to speak before the committee. Howland said he also called Ford Tuesday morning.
Diamond urged the committee to act, saying, “Now is the time to issue a subpoena.”
Issuing a subpoena with less than seven days’ notice is not typical. Councilman Rahman Johnson called the process rushed.
“I just don’t want to jump to a subpoena,” Johnson said. “It turns into almost an adversarial process.”
Ford is about to formally leave JTA. Howland said Ford would be off the agency’s payroll Wednesday and start his new job Monday. A JTA spokesperson confirmed Ford will begin leading Dallas Area Rapid Transit next week.
“The timing is terrible here,” Councilman Ron Salem said.
Salem urged council members to pause and reflect on issuing a subpoena that could result in a fine or imprisonment if Ford fails to comply.
“I think we should be very careful,” Salem said.
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