Lenny Curry

Lenny Curry
Born	Leonard Boyd Curry 19 7, 1970
Birthplace	Key West, Florida, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, accountant, businessman, lobbyist
Known for	8th Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida
Education	University of Florida (BS)
Children	3
Website	[http://www.coj.net/Mayor.aspx Official site]

Leonard Boyd Curry (born July 19, 1970) is an American politician, accountant, businessman, and lobbyist who served as the 8th mayor of Jacksonville, Florida, from 2015 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Curry defeated incumbent mayor Alvin Brown in the 2015 mayoral election and won re-election in 2019. Before entering the mayoral race, Curry served as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida from 2011 to 2014 and co-founded the professional services firm ICX Group. His tenure as mayor encompassed significant events including the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts to host the 2020 Republican National Convention, and a controversial attempt to privatize JEA, Jacksonville's publicly owned utility. After leaving office in July 2023, succeeded by Donna Deegan, Curry registered as a lobbyist in Jacksonville in late 2025, a move that reignited public debate over his record and relationship with JEA.

Early Life

Leonard Boyd Curry was born on July 19, 1970, in Key West, Florida. He grew up in Florida and eventually settled in the Jacksonville area, where he would build his professional career and enter politics. Details about his parents and childhood beyond his birthplace remain limited in public records.

Curry's early interest in business and finance led him to pursue a career in accounting and professional services. Before entering politics, he co-founded ICX Group, a professional services firm based in Jacksonville. His background in the private sector—particularly in accounting and business consulting—would later become a central element of his political identity, as he campaigned on themes of fiscal management and government efficiency.

Education

Curry attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. His education at the University of Florida, one of the state's flagship public universities, provided the foundation for his subsequent career in accounting and business.

Career

Early Political Involvement and Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida

Curry's involvement in Republican politics in Florida grew steadily during the 2000s and 2010s. A 2010 profile described him as "the GOP's quarterback," noting his increasing influence within the state party apparatus. He rose through the ranks of Republican Party leadership in Florida, building relationships with key figures in the state's political establishment.

On September 23, 2011, Curry was elected chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, succeeding David Bitner in the role. As state party chairman, Curry was responsible for overseeing party operations, fundraising, candidate recruitment, and electoral strategy across Florida during a period that included the 2012 presidential and congressional elections. He served in this capacity until May 31, 2014, when he was succeeded by Leslie Dougher.

His time as party chairman raised his statewide profile and positioned him as a figure of increasing prominence in Jacksonville politics. A 2015 report noted that Curry had "transformed from [a] minor player in GOP politics into [a] formidable Brown challenger," describing his trajectory from party operative to mayoral candidate.

2015 Mayoral Election

In 2015, Curry entered the race for mayor of Jacksonville, challenging the incumbent Democrat Alvin Brown. Brown had made history in 2011 as the first African American mayor of Jacksonville, but faced criticism over aspects of his administration's performance. Curry ran on a platform emphasizing fiscal responsibility, public safety, and government reform, drawing on his background in business and accounting to present himself as a competent manager.

Curry won the 2015 mayoral election, defeating Brown to become the 8th mayor of Jacksonville. He took office on July 1, 2015, inheriting leadership of the largest city by area in the contiguous United States and one of the most populous municipalities in the southeastern United States.

First Term as Mayor (2015–2019)

During his first term, Curry focused on a number of municipal priorities including pension reform, infrastructure investment, and economic development. Jacksonville, as a consolidated city-county government encompassing all of Duval County, presented unique governance challenges given its vast geographic area and diverse population.

One of the most consequential and controversial initiatives of Curry's tenure was the proposed privatization of JEA, Jacksonville's municipally owned electric, water, and sewer utility. The proposal, which would have involved selling the utility to a private entity, generated significant public opposition and scrutiny. The JEA privatization effort ultimately collapsed amid allegations of mismanagement and improper dealings, and it became a defining and contentious aspect of Curry's legacy.

2019 Re-Election

Curry ran for re-election in 2019 and won a second term as mayor. His re-election secured another four years in office, with his second term set to run from 2019 to 2023.

Republican National Convention Bid

In 2020, Curry and Jacksonville officials made a high-profile bid to host the 2020 Republican National Convention. After the convention was partially relocated from Charlotte, North Carolina, due to disagreements between the Republican National Committee and North Carolina's governor over COVID-19 safety restrictions, Jacksonville was announced as the site for the convention's major events. A host committee was named to oversee the planning and logistics of the event.

However, the convention was ultimately not held in Jacksonville as the COVID-19 pandemic worsened in Florida during the summer of 2020, making a large-scale in-person gathering untenable. The decision to cancel the Jacksonville portion of the convention was a setback for Curry's administration, which had invested significant political capital in securing the event.

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

The COVID-19 pandemic posed the most significant public health and governance challenge of Curry's tenure. The first cases of COVID-19 in Duval County were confirmed in March 2020, coinciding with the first cases in neighboring Clay County.

Curry's initial response to the pandemic drew relatively strong public approval. A University of North Florida poll conducted in early April 2020 found that Curry received 70 percent approval for his handling of COVID-19, while Governor Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump trailed significantly.

In late March 2020, Curry stated that there would be no curfew imposed on the city but indicated that a stronger executive order was in development, noting that hospitals had sufficient bed capacity at that time. A work-from-home mandate was implemented and was set to expire in mid-May 2020 as part of the city's reopening plan.

The question of mask mandates became a politically charged issue in Jacksonville as elsewhere in the country. In late June 2020, Curry initially stated that he would not mandate face masks in the city. However, as COVID-19 cases surged in Florida, Curry reversed course within a week and issued a mask mandate on June 29, 2020, requiring the wearing of masks in indoor public spaces and in outdoor settings where social distancing was not possible. The mask mandate remained in effect for approximately nine months before being lifted in March 2021.

Curry himself tested positive for COVID-19 in January 2022, as reported by local media.

Sheriff Mike Williams Controversy

In the latter part of his second term, Curry was involved in a dispute concerning Duval County Sheriff Mike Williams. In mid-2022, Curry stated that an attorney would decide the future of Sheriff Williams, who faced questions about his eligibility to continue serving in office.

End of Mayoral Tenure

Curry's second term as mayor concluded on July 1, 2023. He was succeeded by Donna Deegan, a Democrat and former television news anchor, who won the 2023 mayoral election. Under Jacksonville's term limit provisions, Curry was ineligible to seek a third consecutive term.

Post-Mayoral Career and Lobbying

Following his departure from the mayor's office, Curry entered a period described by observers as "relative political dormancy." However, by late 2025, he had re-emerged in local politics, drawing attention for his public commentary and professional activities.

In November 2025, Curry registered as a lobbyist in Jacksonville, marking his formal return to City Hall in a new capacity. His lobbying activities included work connected to JEA, which revived scrutiny of the failed utility privatization effort that had occurred during his mayoralty. A report by 104.5 WOKV described Curry's JEA lobbying as "unthinkable" given the controversy surrounding the earlier privatization attempt.

A profile by WJCT in October 2025, titled "Lenny Curry 2.0 Has Zero Apologies," described Curry as having "emerged from a period of relative political dormancy to reclaim his voice in local politics."

2026 JEA Controversy

In February 2026, a public dispute erupted between Curry and his successor, Mayor Donna Deegan, over allegations involving JEA. Mayor Deegan and JEA officials held a news conference in which they accused Curry's lobbying firm of orchestrating a "smear campaign" against JEA CEO Vickie Cavey. Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico claimed that employees had voiced complaints about racism and a toxic work culture under Cavey.

Curry denied any involvement in a retribution campaign against the JEA CEO, accusing Mayor Deegan of lying. He pushed back against the allegations, stating that Deegan had been "called a liar" by the JEA CEO herself.

The clash between the current and former mayors was described by Action News Jax as "weird and strange," with the report noting that "political tension is intensifying in Jacksonville" over the JEA controversy. Florida Politics reported in November 2025 that a "war of words" had been heating up between Deegan and Curry, with Deegan stating, "I think that his record speaks for itself, and I think that my record speaks for itself."

Personal Life

Curry has three children. He resides in the Jacksonville area. Beyond these publicly documented facts, Curry has maintained relative privacy regarding his family life. He was born in Key West, Florida, but has spent the majority of his professional and political career based in the Jacksonville metropolitan area.

Recognition

During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Curry received notable public approval for his handling of the crisis. A University of North Florida poll from April 2020 showed a 70 percent approval rating for his COVID-19 response, which was significantly higher than the ratings received by Governor Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump in the same survey.

As chairman of the Republican Party of Florida from 2011 to 2014, Curry held one of the most prominent party leadership positions in one of the nation's largest and most politically competitive states. His subsequent election as mayor of Jacksonville, the most populous city in Florida, further established him as a figure of note in Florida Republican politics.

Legacy

Curry's eight-year tenure as mayor of Jacksonville encompassed periods of both achievement and controversy. His administration navigated the city through the COVID-19 pandemic, during which his initial response received broad public support, including the implementation—after initial reluctance—of a mask mandate that remained in place for nine months.

The failed attempt to privatize JEA remains one of the most scrutinized aspects of Curry's time in office. The controversy has continued to follow him into his post-mayoral career, particularly after his registration as a lobbyist with connections to JEA business in late 2025. The ongoing public disputes between Curry and his successor, Donna Deegan, over JEA-related matters have kept his record in the public eye well beyond his departure from office.

His path from party chairman to mayor to lobbyist reflects a trajectory common among political figures who maintain involvement in public affairs after leaving elected office. The 2025 WJCT profile characterizing him as "Lenny Curry 2.0" with "zero apologies" suggested a figure who remains unapologetic about his record and engaged in Jacksonville's political landscape.