JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Action News Jax is continuing to press for answers about former Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry’s newly registered role as a lobbyist for JEA - a move renewing scrutiny and receiving criticism of his administration’s part in the failed effort to privatize the city-owned utility nearly a decade ago.
Curry filed as a lobbyist with the City of Jacksonville on November 12, just over two years after leaving office - the minimum cooling-off period required before former elected officials can lobby the government. The filing lists JEA as one of Curry’s 28 clients, which include the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Downtown Vision, Inc., VyStar Credit Union, Edward Waters University, and the Fraternal Order of Police.
But the former Mayor tells Action News Jax Ben Becker the listing is simply “clerical,” saying JEA is ultimately a client of Ballard Partners, the powerhouse lobbying firm where he now serves as a partner.
When contacted by Becker, the utility stated plainly that Curry is not one of its lobbyists despite his disclosure form saying otherwise. JEA confirmed only three Ballard Partners lobbyists represent the utility: Brian Ballard, Jordan Elsbury, and Daniel McFaul. Elsbury, Curry’s former chief of staff and now Ballard’s managing partner, shares many of the same clients.
Curry declined to elaborate beyond calling the JEA listing “clerical.”
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‘Is the Mayor’s office involved?’
Curry’s return to City Hall comes as questions still linger about his administration’s role in the attempted sale of JEA. A special Jacksonville City Council investigative committee released a report in 2021 after more than a year of interviews, document reviews, and timeline reconstruction.
The report found that Curry’s administration began exploring a potential sale of JEA as early as 2017 and appointed then-CEO Aaron Zahn in part to advance the privatization effort. Zahn was eventually convicted of charges of conspiracy and wire fraud in 2024. At the time of his indictment, Becker asked Zahn as he was leaving the courthouse ‘Is the Mayor’s office involved?’, which led to both Zahn and his wife to look at each other and smile grimly.
“The Mayor apparently hoped that he could advance a JEA sale effort to a point that a purchaser would offer billions of dollars to the City,” the report states, suggesting Curry believed the combination of a high sale price and a proposed $400 million customer rebate would build political and public support.
Curry was never charged with any crimes.
‘Unthinkable’
Former City Councilmember Randy DeFoor, who served on the committee that investigated Curry’s role in the JEA scandal, released a statement to Becker that highlighted any role Curry may have tied with JEA is unacceptable.
“The fact that Lenny Curry represents the JEA is unthinkable,” said DeFoor. “As you might recall, Lenny was found to be the orchestrator of the sale of the JEA in the special investigation based on emails to the removal of board members, among other evidence. This violates the trust of the people and, in my opinion, constitutes a breach of contract by the current lobbyist firm by hiring someone who is in direct conflict with the best interest of the client.”
Becker reached out to Ballard Partners for comment, and he’s waiting to hear back.
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