Investigation requested for LeAnna Cumber not disclosing husband’s ties to JEA sale attempt
JACKSONVILLE (FLV) – Jacksonville Councilmember Nick Howland requested an investigation into Councilmember LeAnna Cumber’s claims that she had no conflicts of interest in the JEA attempted sale, despite emails showing her husband was involved.
Cumber is currently a Republican Jacksonville mayoral candidate.
Back in 2021, the Special Investigatory Committee Chair asked city council members to disclose whether they or their immediate family members had “any interaction” with people or entities connected with the 2019 JEA attempted sale.
Cumber signed a JEA disclosure statement saying there were no conflicts of interest with JEA. However, emails obtained by Florida’s Voice show her husband, Husein Cumber, had been involved with the discussions surrounding the sale.
Howland addressed a letter to Council President Terrance Freeman requesting an investigation.
“Council Member Cumber may have a valid reason for withholding this information. She certainly deserves the opportunity to clear the air. But to maintain trust and confidence in local government, City Council has a responsibility to find out for sure,” Howland’s letter said. “I join with my colleague Rory Diamond in requesting that City Council immediately open an investigation into the involvement of Council Member Cumber’s husband in the attempted sale of JEA and the omission of this information in her disclosure to the Special Investigatory Committee.”
Emails: Jax Councilwoman LeAnna Cumber had conflict of interest in JEA sale despite claiming otherwise
Howland notes that he was not on the City Council during the events, but expressed concerns that a “Council Member’s husband was advising a potential buyer while the Council Member herself was a seller.” He notes there are “safeguards” in place for these situations in the industry.
“Withholding this information from Council’s Special Investigatory Committee- concerns me even more,” he said. “This is information citizens need to know.”
Florida’s Voice reported on the emails showing Husein Cumber’s conversations surrounding the sale. In one email, Husein Cumber is editing a question that the team would submit to JEA during the official Q&A period.
LeAnna Cumber defended her decision not to disclose Husein in an interview with FOX30. The outlet reports that the councilmember claims disclosing Husein “could have compromised the integrity integrity of the federal investigation into ousted JEA CEO Aaron Zahn, as Husein was actively acting as an FBI informant at the time.”
“To make sure that the people who were trying to steal a billion dollars from this city were brought to justice. My singular focus was to make sure I did nothing to impede that,” councilmember Cumber said to the outlet.
