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JEA leadership, including embattled CEO Vickie Cavey, drew mixed reviews from JEA employees in a recently conducted survey, the results of which were provided to the Daily Record by JEA.
While the city-owned utility scored well compared with similarly-sized utilities in some categories, employee approval of those at JEA’s helm was as lower compared with those entities.
The survey, which was sent to all 2,314 employees and answered by 1,362, comes as Cavey has been the subject of two investigations – both by a Jacksonville City Council investigatory committee and a private law firm retained by JEA.
The survey was not part of either investigation, and was commissioned before allegations of racism and toxic leadership emerged against Cavey, according to a JEA spokesperson.
Cavey, along with JEA’s chiefs and vice presidents, scored the worst in the poll compared with other utilities with 600 to 2,200 employees.
Among the respondents, 46% said they felt that Cavey and executives understand what is really happening at the utility, compared with 65% at similar utilities. The results showed that 49% of employees said they had confidence in JEA’s chiefs, compared with 72% of similar utilities.
“Chiefs are not open and honest with their direct reports about what is going on. Everything is a secret on the 7th floor,” one employee wrote in an open-ended survey question.
“Most employees do not have access to Vickie since she and all the chiefs are behind a secure door on the 7th floor. The chiefs will not speak up because they don’t want to lose their jobs about the way Vickie treats them.”
“I think Vicky/chiefs (sic) are doing a good job and they are cleaning up the mess from previous leadership,” another comment read. “It seems like JEA is doing a good job of doing the work. It would be great if political noise could be lessened from the outside to allow JEA to do what it does best.”
Employees’ names were not provided in the responses provided by JEA.
Not all answers from employees about JEA’s leadership were negative, with some dismissing the allegations against Cavey as political. Others called for Cavey’s removal as CEO.
“Ever since this new CEO has come to JEA morale has been at an all time low and with the constant fact finding meetings for things that are ridiculous it feels like a constant witch hunt,” one employee wrote. “The best thing that could happen to JEA is they fire the CEO and replace everyone in senior management with people who are competent.”
“I feel like Vickey Cavey is a positive and encouraging CEO,” read another comment. “She has participates (sic) in functions at our service center and takes the time to talk and truly listen to us. I don’t like the fact that she has been the target of negative media attention. She has been an amazing CEO!”
JEA scored better than similarly sized utilities in other questions. Among them, 69% of employees said they rarely consider searching for a job at another organization, compared with 60% of comparable utilities.
Reviews of JEA’s leadership also varied by department. Of the respondents, 61% in JEA’s technology department said Cavey and other leadership understood what was happening at the utility, while 34% in customer experience felt the same.
Allegations spark Council investigation, denial from Cavey
Allegations against Cavey emerged in February after Council President Kevin Carrico told The Florida Times-Union that Cavey had fostered a racist, toxic workplace culture at JEA.
In a February statement provided to the Daily Record, Carrico said he would push for a change of leadership at JEA.
“Since becoming Council President and as a leader of this community I have unfortunately taken numerous meetings and calls from JEA employees with allegations of racism, toxic corporate culture, and other leadership challenges associated with the CEO,” Carrico wrote.
“I am currently having conversations with community leadership interested in addressing these challenges and moving our utility forward.”
Since Carrico, along with former JEA Chief of Staff Kurt Wilson, made his allegations against Cavey, the Council committee has investigated JEA’s culture.
Cavey, who is scheduled to appear before the committee June 22, has denied allegations against her.
“Vickie treats her staff and other employees (not her favorites) disrespectful (sic). She does not speak to females like she speaks to males,” wrote one employee. “The board of directors really let the employees down by not investigating the allegations brought against Vickie. Thank the Lord City Councilman (Rory) Diamond, (Ron) Salem and (Ju’Coby) Pittman stepped up for the employees. We need a new board except (sic) keep Rick (Morales) since he fought for the employees.”
Morales came under fire from the JEA board after he privately asked Cavey to resign before the board was set to make him board chair during a Feb. 24 board meeting. Morales said Cavey initially agreed to resign before deciding to stay on as CEO. JEA’s board later made MG Orender its char at a March board meeting.
During a Feb. 24 board meeting, Cavey said that if the allegations were true, complaints would have emerged earlier in her more than 40 years with JEA and “would not suddenly appear overnight in a political news cycle.”
“My leadership style is rigorous, and it is fair, consistent and grounded in respect. I hold senior leaders to high standards, because JEA’s mission is critical,” Cavey said.
Carrico’s allegations came after he made headlines for appointing his boss at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida to a JEA board position. Paul Martinez withdrew his nomination after reporting showed that Carrico had messaged JEA board member Arthur Adams he nominated Martinez as a “big favor” to a friend.
‘Smear campaign’
More than one Jacksonville politician has pointed to former Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry as the impetus for that “big favor” text.
In a February news conference, Mayor Donna Deegan heavily alluded to Curry and allies of his lobbying firm, Ballard Partners, as leading a “smear campaign” against Cavey. That campaign, Deegan said, came after JEA opted not to extend a contract with Ballard in January 2026.
Deegan told reporters to “connect the dots” after she was asked about the involvement of Curry and Jordan Elsbury, Curry’s former chief of staff and current managing partner with Ballard’s Jacksonville office.
After a reporter asked Cavey if she was pressured to extend the contract, Deegan urged Cavey to “tell the truth and shame the devil.”
“I would not call it a pressure campaign,” Cavey said.
Curry and Elsbury, now Curry’s colleague at Ballard Partners, both denied being involved.