In this special episode marking the third anniversary of Mikes on Mic, hosts Mike Miller, Mike Hightower, and Mike Tolbert are back in the studio together to celebrate three years of insightful political conversation. Joining the celebration is investigative reporting legend and Executive Editor of The Tributary, Nate Monroe.
The Mikes dive deep with Nate into the latest political shockwaves rocking Jacksonville, from unredacted text scandals and public records battles to the changing guardrails of local government and the future of the city's independent authorities.
Key Topics Discussed
- The Kevin Carrico Text Scandal: Nate breaks down his recent reporting on former City Council President Kevin Carrico's "inartful" text messages regarding a Boys & Girls Club land deal and his flippant approach to public business.
- The Public Records Battle: A look behind the curtain at the considerable fight The Tributary and other news organizations faced to extract complete text messages from city council officials, raising serious transparency concerns.
- JEA & The Investigative Committee: The fallout of Carrico's accusations against JEA CEO Vicki Cavey and why the council seems ready to move past the drama.
- Scrutinizing the Unscrutinized (JSO): Nate discusses how the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office budget consumes a massive chunk of the general fund yet traditionally escapes rigorous council oversight.
- The Death of Local "Guardrails": A poignant look at how Jacksonville politics have nationalized into a permanent partisan campaign mode, shifting away from the traditional influence of local stakeholders with "skin in the game".
- Nat Ford’s JTA Legacy: With JTA CEO Nat Ford resigning effective January 2027 after 13 years, the team reflects on his knack for securing federal grants balanced against the controversial autonomous vehicle program and the fate of the Skyway.
Notable Quotes
"Kevin Carrico, as council president, has now had to either apologize or explain away the kind of flippant language that he has used to discuss public business repeatedly... In plain English, it reads quite badly.""When cities lose their newspaper... fewer people run for office, partisan attitudes increase, local government spending goes up. It's not just that public officials act differently, the community changes in serious ways."
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