News Summary
The Mayor’s Office in Jacksonville has dismissed claims that the withdrawal of Craig Shoup’s job offer and Chief Administrative Officer Karen Bowling’s resignation are connected. Shoup, who was set to begin work as Neighborhoods Administrator, had his offer rescinded the night before starting. The Mayor’s Office attributed the decision to a reevaluation process, despite the coincidental timing with Bowling’s resignation. This incident has led to increased uncertainty about leadership within Jacksonville’s administration, especially during a contentious budget process.
Jacksonville – The Mayor’s Office in Jacksonville has officially denied any connection between the withdrawal of a job offer to Craig Shoup and the resignation of Chief Administrative Officer Karen Bowling, which has raised concerns among local residents and officials.
Craig Shoup was offered the position of Neighborhoods Administrator on September 12, with a salary of $125,000 and a start date of October 13. He previously served as the Executive Director of the Jacksonville Bar Association (JBA) since 2017. After accepting the job offer, Shoup resigned from his position at the JBA, effective October 10. He even participated in employee orientation, which included having his badge photo taken.
However, the night before he was set to begin working for the city, Shoup received a voicemail rescinding the job offer. On the same day that Shoup received the voicemail, Bowling submitted her resignation, which is effective October 24. According to the resignation text sent to Mayor Donna Deegan, the decision to part ways was mutual. Bowling held a position that paid $290,000 annually.
The Mayor’s Office indicated that they were moving in a “different direction” regarding the Neighborhoods Administrator position, citing an ongoing organizational reevaluation process. A representative of Mayor Deegan stated that the withdrawal of Shoup’s offer was not related to Bowling’s resignation. However, a request for further clarity on the reasons behind the organizational reevaluation yielded no additional comments.
The timing of these events has created an atmosphere of uncertainty, especially since an article announcing Shoup’s departure from the JBA had already been published prior to the job offer being rescinded. Additionally, the current political landscape in City Hall is tense, particularly due to a contentious budget process where the City Council cut nearly $445,000 from the Mayor’s Office budget.
The combined salaries of Shoup and Bowling total $415,000, further supporting the assertion from the Mayor’s office that the two events were independent of each other. Nevertheless, the abrupt withdrawal of Shoup’s job offer has left many uncertain about his future plans. The JBA has since appointed Jon McGowan as the interim Executive Director.
It is also noteworthy that earlier in August 2023, Mayor Deegan removed Shoup from the board of the Jacksonville Housing Authority. His subsequent attempt to find a replacement faced setbacks when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) blocked the nomination due to funding issues. During his tenure at the JBA, Shoup defended City General Counsel Michael Fackler against a resolution filed by Councilman Ron Salem, which also adds to the political dynamics at play.
The recent developments highlight significant shifts within Jacksonville’s governance and raise questions about the management and direction of the city’s administrative operations. While the Mayor’s Office maintains that the withdrawal of the job offer and Bowling’s resignation are unrelated, the coincidence of the timing has sparked discussions about stability and leadership within the city administration.
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Additional Resources
- WOKV: Jacksonville Mayor’s Office Denies Link Between Job Offer Rescission and Resignation
- Wikipedia: Jacksonville
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- Google Search: Jacksonville Mayor’s Office News
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Author: STAFF HERE JACKSONVILLE WRITER
The JACKSONVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREJacksonville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Jacksonville, Duval County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Riverside Arts Market, and World of Nations Celebration. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and JAXUSA Partnership, plus leading businesses in logistics, healthcare, and entertainment that power the local economy such as CSX Corporation, Baptist Health, and VyStar Credit Union. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
