Jacksonville councilman: "Mayor is behind a sale for JEA"

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On Wednesday, the Jacksonville City Council will be presented the valuation study commissioned by JEA ahead of a possible sale.

As Action News Jax been telling you, Mayor Lenny Curry called that meeting after City Council President Anna Brosche refused, saying she feared this was being rushed.

On Tuesday, the sparring continued, with City Council Member Garrett Dennis contending the mayor has been the driving force behind a possible sale all along.

The political tensions between Mayor Curry and Councilman Dennis are well-documented.

Action News Jax told you that Dennis recently claimed a Curry staffer called him a 'dead man walking.'

“It is definitely the mayor’s agenda, and I think as the process unveils itself, it’ll be apparent that the mayor is behind a sale for JEA,” Dennis said.

In recent weeks, Action News Jax sent a public records request to the Office of General Counsel, asking for all email correspondence between the mayor and members his cabinet about the sale of JEA from August 1, 2015, through February 1, 2018.

The only email that came back was a link to an Action News Jax Investigation into the possible sale of JEA sent to cabinet members by Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa.

On Monday, Curry denied being behind the sale of JEA in an interview with Reporter Danielle Avitable.

“I don’t have enough information to have an opinion on it,” Curry said.  “I think it’s wise to know the value of assets that taxpayers have and JEA happens to be a large one.”

Wednesday’s meeting is at 3 p.m. at City Hall.​

“It’s set up so a lot of people won’t come out, and potentially some shenanigans can happen,” Dennis said.

Curry said he had no plans to call for a vote during that meeting.

Dennis said, whatever happens, he won't be voting on any action to sell the utility that employs nearly 2,000 people.

He said as it stands now, selling JEA would take 13 council votes, with the public never having a chance to weigh-in.

Cox Media Group