JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Vickie Cavey announced her retirement as JEA’s CEO on Wednesday, ending her tenure at the Jacksonville public utility.
Now, hundreds of text messages released as part of a public-records request offer new insight into the job-related stress and political pressure Cavey experienced before her departure.
The messages, exchanged between Cavey and her former chief of staff, Kurt Wilson, span several months. While many are routine, some show Cavey expressing frustration about negotiations, public-records requests and what she described as an “adversarial” environment.
In October 2025, Cavey wrote Wilson about an upcoming executive leadership meeting.
“Call me later about ELT meeting tomorrow. Feeling in the dark…for lots of reasons,” Cavey said.
It is unclear what Cavey was referring to in the message. At the time, one of the primary issues facing JEA was a proposed 5.1% rate increase. JEA said the increase was driven in part by debt-service costs associated with the Plant Vogtle nuclear project in Georgia.
That month, it was also revealed that the Mayo Clinic owed JEA millions of dollars in unpaid capacity fees.
Cavey’s tone became sharper in November after what she described as a difficult day of negotiations.
“This could get ugly if it goes to council,” Cavey wrote.
She also referenced someone who she said was “threatening,” although the messages do not make clear who or what she was referring to.
Later that evening, Cavey discussed public-records requests involving text messages and phone calls.
“I don’t understand the adversarial nature. I really don’t,” she wrote at about 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5.
The next morning, Cavey told Wilson:
“I’m arriving to Pearl Street. Give me a call if you can. I don’t wanna talk about this here.”
The exchange suggests the matter was sensitive, though the messages do not provide additional details.
The texts also include repeated references to political and public pressure surrounding JEA.
In November, Cavey wrote:
“Information has already been sent to the JEA Board and to the Mayor’s Office in case they get questions.”
In January, she asked whether anything involving JEA had come up during a Jacksonville City Council meeting.
During another dispute in February, Cavey wrote:
“I should have been told earlier about this.”
The next day, she added:
“So many problems today at work!”
In another message from Sept. 11, 2025, Cavey described the challenges she was facing:
“We are navigating rough waters sometimes my friend! Just leaving work. What a day.”
Some of Cavey’s messages were redacted as part of the public-records release. The records also do not show Cavey discussing the text-message smear campaign that was launched against her.
Cavey said she decided to leave her $700,000 salary because it was the right decision for herself, her family and JEA. She did not provide additional details about the decision.
Interim CEO Jody Brooks will continue serving as interim CEO and managing director while the JEA Board holds a special meeting to determine the next steps in the utility’s leadership transition.
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