In a turn of events within the Jacksonville Housing Authority's search for a new CEO, the top candidate George Guy has withdrawn his interest in the position. The announcement came after a contract dispute that board members described as containing "shocking" demands, as News4Jax reported. Guy's requested contract terms included a $310,000 base salary and stipulations that would allow him to provide consulting services in his own time, a lack of commitment to a prompt relocation to Jacksonville, and a $25,000 credit card solely for relocation expenses.
Further raising eyebrows was Guy's demand for a $300,000 buyout if let go within the first year, and a $200,000 buyout if terminated later, along with his insistence that neither "disgraceful conduct" nor "insubordination" be grounds for dismissal. After serving as CEO of the Fort Wayne Housing Authority in Indiana, Guy's demands brought negotiations with the JHA to a standstill, with one board member labeling them as "pretty out of line" and indicative of bad faith, according to Jacksonville.com.
Meanwhile, the JHA has not stood still. Following Guy's withdrawal, the attention has shifted to Cheron Corbett Waller, who ranked second during the initial CEO interviews, and currently serves as the president and CEO at both DuPage County and Kendall County Housing Authorities in Illinois. She is now entering talks for the pivotal leadership role. "I do think we need to stay the course and find the best CEO for our city of Jacksonville," Andrea Reyes, a board member, told Jacksonville.com, underscoring a commitment to fill the leadership vacuum long present.
This leadership turmoil comes on the back of a challenging period for the JHA, marked by resignations and scandals. Vanessa Dunn stepped in as acting CEO following former CEO Dwayne Alexander's January resignation, who claimed he was being pushed out. Yet, Dunn also resigned before completing her term in August. The organization has also tackled a series of at least five inspector general investigations and an arrest within its ranks on charges of credit card fraud, which was covered in a report by Action News Jax. Given the circumstances, the priority for the JHA Board now lies in ensuring that its next CEO will steer the organization towards stable governance and renewed trust amongst the communities it serves.
