JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As he prepares for his exit as CEO of the Jacksonville Housing Authority, Dwayne Alexander is pointing toward his accomplishments and performance.
"I can only judge based on my performance, and my performance was stellar," Alexander told First Coast News.
Alexander sat down with First Coast News two days after announcing his resignation.
In his resignation letter, Alexander said he felt the mayor's administration is "improperly pushing me out through the BOC [Board of Commissioners] based on the comments made by some of the BOC in the past two months and its actions."
Alexander didn’t want to comment specifically on his words about Mayor Deegan's administration. He says he received a high grade in his most recent performance review. But, feels like he wasn’t treated as someone who performed at a high level.
In a November 2023 Jacksonville Housing Authority Board of Commissioners meeting, the board discussed Alexander's most recent performance review, in which he "exceeded expectations."
Board chair Christopher Walker, who resigned last week, said there were some "really positive things" in Alexander's review.
Alexander says things started to change after the November meeting.
"It might have been some comments about leadership, or some comments about communications," Alexander said. "But, when you look at my evaluations, I got graded, extremely high, and communications and leadership."
Alexander didn't mention specific comments by board members. The board decided to offer him a six-month contract in December, but he didn't sign it.
"One of the key things to the six-month contract is that the contract did not have any goals," Alexander told First Coast News. "So, how could you measure my performance in six months and the contract didn't have any goals?"
Alexander is the latest JHA official to exit. Three board members including Walker, have left since Mayor Deegan took office in July.
The mayor appointed two board members and has two more appointees waiting approval to join the board.
"Typically, when mayors come into office, [there] is normally some changes," Alexander said. "Maybe not as drastic. But, the whole spirit around what was taking place, made me look at my future from a different perspective."
During his six years as CEO, Alexander led renovations of 611 housing units around the city in addition to purchasing several properties such as the Franklin Arm Apartments, a property deemed a nuisance by the city's Nuisance and Abatement Board.
Alexander also led in efforts in purchasing Westwood Apartments on Jacksonville's Westside.
"The Westwood is 256 units, we're very excited about that," Alexander said. "And then home JWB beautiful brand-new homes," Alexander said.
Alexander is also dealing with fallout from an inspector general report, which looked at how JHA managed money put on debit cards for public housing tenants to pay their utility bills.
"We did nothing illegal," Alexander said. "The OIG [Office of Inspector General] made some recommendations, we have looked into the recommendations, we have reached out to JEA, because they made a good suggestion," Alexander said.
The mayor's office said the OIG is investigating JHA, and said the OIG has not provided details on if the investigation involves the utility program.
Alexander says he wasn't aware of any investigations, other than a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD] compliance review. A review, Alexander said, is standard and done at random to other housing authorities.
Despite feeling pushed out by new administration, Alexander wishes the board and mayor well.
"She [Mayor Deegan] needs support, and what she's trying to do, and I wish her and everyone else all the luck in the world," Alexander said.
Alexander gave a 30-day notice Monday. In a statement, JHA vice chair Heather Horovitz wished Alexander well and said a national search for a new CEO will begin shortly.
On Tuesday, a city spokesperson told First Coast News the Deegan Administration did not force Alexander out, and that he left on his own will.