JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – JEA CEO Jay Stowe is expected to step down from his position leading the city-owned utility, multiple sources told News4JAX on Thursday.
There is expected to be an emergency JEA board meeting on Monday where more information may come out.
There was speculation Stowe could resign after the last board meeting where Chairman Bobby Stein was raising lots of questions about the CEO’s performance.
Stowe has been under public pressure recently after News4JAX revealed that some of the people who made important decisions about the operations of JEA, a city-owned utility company, didn’t live in Jacksonville. Laura Dutton, who lives and worked remotely in Tennessee, was released from her position as JEA Chief Strategy Officer, shortly after she got a $73,000 raise and reports of her living situation emerged.
Dutton was one of the four people in charge who News4JAX learned didn’t live in Jacksonville, even though the company recently opened a new $100 million corporate headquarters downtown.
There was also public backlash after reports that JEA hosted a $72,000 holiday party with an open bar, catered food and magicians.
City Councilman Rory Diamond talked about the next steps.
“I certainly appreciate Jay. So having jumped in and led JEA during a really difficult time, but I’m not surprised that he’s stepping down now. We’re having some challenges with JEA being responsive to the community and what we need and look forward to getting a new CEO in there soon,” Diamond said.
Councilman Diamond said JEA executives need to live in Jacksonville.
“It’s absolutely insane that we had so many key executives living in Tennessee and New Jersey, South Florida. I mean Jacksonville is a beautiful place to live. We should have executives, especially key executives who live here who are excited to live here,” he said.
While the future of the CEO role is uncertain, Diamond said when the time comes to find a replacement the utility’s board will evaluate the best candidates.
“We need somebody who knows the organization, who’s hopefully worked there a long time, knows both the water side, knows the electric side. And that’s the hope, but it’ll be driven by the board,” he said.
News4JAX tried to contact Stowe and Mayor Donna Deegan’s office for comment.
We also received this statement from JEA.
We do not have any information we can share at this time. Jay Stowe is in a series of national security-focused meetings in Washington D.C. through Friday, so he is not available. We will have more information at a board meeting on Monday, April 15.
JEA Spokesperson Karen McAllister
Stowe got the job in 2020 following the scandal surrounding the attempted sale of the utility. Last month, former JEA CEO Aaron Zahn was found guilty by a federal jury of attempting to defraud the city-owned utility.
The meeting will be held at 2 p.m. on April 15.