Jax City Council investigation into councilmember and mayoral candidate LeAnna Cumber takes shape

JACKSONVILLE, Fla — The newly revived city council special committee investigating the failed sale of JEA will hold its first meeting next Wednesday.

It comes just one day after City Council President Terrance Freeman (R-Group 1 At-Large) officially called for the committee to be reconvened.

The committee will look into questions raised by emails obtained by Action News Jax last Friday that show Councilmember and Republican Mayoral Candidate LeAnna Cumber failed to disclose her husband’s involvement in JEA Public Power Partner’s bid during the attempted sale.

The committee will be chaired by Councilmember Rory Diamond (R-District 13) and Co-Chaired by Councilmember Nick Howland (R-Group 3 At-Large), both of which called on the Council President to launch an investigation into Cumber.

Past Council President Sam Newby (R-Group 5 At-Large) and Councilmember Michael Boylan (R-District 6) will also serve on the special committee.

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Cumber’s attorney Daniel Nunn issued a statement Wednesday night following the announcement of the reconvening of the special committee.

“This manufactured controversy exposes the lengths to which Mayor Curry and his chosen successor will go to win,” said Nunn.

He went on to suggest former Councilmember Garrett Dennis and Councilmember Aaron Bowman should also be investigated.

Dennis submitted a conflict-of-interest form but didn’t make mention of a job offer from a company called Matrix, which has alleged ties to Florida Power and Light.

Dennis declined to comment on the call for him to be investigated, but he told us in January of last year he had no idea the offer had anything to do with the JEA sale until years after he filed his disclosure.

“It’s unfortunate they went to so great lengths to get me off of council,” said Dennis on January 24th, 2022.

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Bowman didn’t submit a conflict-of-interest disclosure at all.

“There’s nothing in my activities or family’s background that would show any communication or interaction with any suitor of JEA. I chose to not respond since I saw it as an over-reach of council investigating its own members and their families, and I still do,” said Bowman in a lengthy statement.

Diamond told Action News Jax Thursday, short of the Council President expanding the committee’s scope, it will remain focused on Cumber.

“And hopefully it’s fast, quick, clear the air,” said Diamond.

Dimond said the in the committee’s first meeting Wednesday it will set a schedule for the investigation.

Sometime thereafter, the committee will issue voluntary requests for information from those suspected to have knowledge of Cumber’s husband’s involvement with JEA PPP.

After that, if the committee doesn’t get the information it wants, it will issue formal subpoenas.

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At that point, if individuals or entities refuse to comply, the committee will vote on whether to request a court to enforce the subpoenas.

Depending on compliance with those requests, the investigation could drag out past the March 21st Unitary Election, but Diamond dismissed suggestions the investigation is politically motivated.

“It’d be really easy if Councilmember Cumber comes forward and says here, you know, this is what I did, this is what I did wrong, I should have done this better. Then we’re done,” said Diamond.

Action News Jax reached out to Council President Terrance Freeman and asked if he would consider expanding the scope of the special committee’s investigation, but didn’t hear back.

Boylan’s full statement:

Updated call for the Special Committee:

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