Jon Jennings

{{Short description|American politician & basketball coach (b.1962)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Jon Jennings

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| office = City Manager of Clearwater, Florida

| term_start = November 8, 2021

| term_end = January 5, 2023

| predecessor = Bill Horne

| successor = Jennifer Poirrier (Temporary)

| office2 = City Manager of Portland, Maine

| term_start2 = July 13, 2015

| term_end2 = November 1, 2021

| predecessor2 = Mark Rees

| successor2 = Danielle West

| office3 = Acting United States Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legislative Affairs

| term_start3 = 1998

| term_end3 = 1999

| predecessor3 = L. Anthony Sutin

| successor3 = Robert Raben

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1962|10|02}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic

| nationality = American

| other_names =

| occupation = City manager and sports businessperson

| years_active =

| known_for =

| notable_works =

}}

Jon Paul Jennings (born October 2, 1962) is an American city manager, politician, and basketball coach. He formerly served as city manager of Portland, Maine, and Clearwater, Florida. He was also the founder, president, and general manager of the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League.

Basketball career

Jennings attended Indiana University Bloomington and was a student manager for the Indiana Hoosiers basketball team. While still in school, he was hired by the Indiana Pacers as a scout and video coordinator.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/elections/2004/candidates/22364/|title=Jon Paul Jennings (D)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604124130/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/elections/2004/candidates/22364/|archive-date=June 4, 2011| newspaper=Washington Post| date=2004}} He joined the Boston Celtics organization in 1986 where he worked as a scout (1986–1990), assistant coach (1990–1994), and Director of Basketball Development (1994–1997).

Early political career

From 1997 to 2000, Jennings worked in the White House Office as a senior assistant in the Office of Cabinet Affairs, director of policy coordination, liaison to the president's initiative on race, and acting assistant attorney general in charge of legislative affairs. Jennings was selected as a White House Fellow in 1997.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

In May 2000, Jennings was named Vice President of Business Development for Givenation.com, a non-profit organization run by former Democratic National Committee Chairman Steve Grossman.{{cite news|url=http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/print.php/363211|title=Givenation.com Gets Their G-Man|archive-date=June 4, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604033125/http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/print.php/363211| publisher=Internetnews.com}} He later rejoined the Celtics organization as a scout.

Jennings completed his degree work on a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard.{{Cite web|title=Portland picks South Portland official as next city manager|url=https://bangordailynews.com/2015/06/12/news/portland/portland-picks-south-portland-official-to-be-next-city-manager/|website=Bangor Daily News|date=12 June 2015 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-13}}

In 2004, Jennings ran for Indiana's 8th congressional seat as a conservative Democrat opposed to abortion rights and gun control.{{Cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2003/10/27/ex_coach_jennings_seeks_seat_in_indiana/|title=Ex-Coach Jennings seeks seat in Indiana - The Boston Globe|website=archive.boston.com|access-date=2016-12-15}} He defeated Bill Pearman in the Democratic primary but lost to incumbent John Hostettler in the general election.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=15323\| title=Jennings, Jon P.| archive-date=June 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614063550/http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=15323}}

From 2005 to 2007, Jennings was in charge of the Massachusetts offices of Senator John Kerry.{{cite web| url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/celtics/2005-12-06-celtics-allen_x.htm| title=Celtics' Allen pleads not guilty to battery charges| website=USA Today| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604012232/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/celtics/2005-12-06-celtics-allen_x.htm | archive-date= June 4, 2011}}

Maine Red Claws

In February 2009, Maine Basketball, LLC, a group Jennings was a partner of, was granted an NBADL expansion franchise. Jennings was named the team's first president and general manager.{{cite web|url=http://www.wpxi.com/sports/18793249/detail.html |title=D-League Awards Team to Portland - Sports News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh |accessdate=2010-01-23 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607002316/http://www.wpxi.com/sports/18793249/detail.html |archivedate=2011-06-07 }} In 2010, Jennings was named as the first NBA D-League Executive of the Year. He also became a partner in the Red Mango Frozen Yogurt store at the Maine Mall and a development at Thompson's Point, a project for which he requested and received a $31 million, 30-year tax break from the City of Portland.{{Cite news|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2011/06/21/tax-break-for-thompsons-point-development-approved/|title=Portland approves tax breakfor Thompson's Point development - The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram|date=2011-06-21|newspaper=The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-15}}

City manager

=Portland=

From 2013 to 2015, he served as the Assistant City Manager for the City of South Portland, Maine. At the time of his hiring, Dan Boxer, an adjunct professor at the University of Maine School of Law, raised questions about a potential conflict of interest between Jennings's role as a partner in the Thompson's Point project, located in Portland, and his responsibilities as South Portland City Manager, which included attracting businesses that could potentially compete with his Thompson's Point project.{{Cite news|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2013/02/20/ex-red-claws-gm-hired-as-assistant-manager-for-so-portland/|title=S. Portland hires former Red Claws exec - The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram|date=2013-02-20|newspaper=The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-15}}

From 2015 to 2021, he served as the City Manager for the City of Portland, Maine.{{cite news|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2015/06/15/portland-council-confirms-jon-jennings-as-new-city-manager/| title=Portland confirms Jon Jennings as new city manager| publisher=Portland Press Herald| date=June 15, 2015}} As Portland City Manager, was described by the Portland Press Herald newspaper as "public enemy No. 1 for progressives," as Jennings pushed for the closure of the India Street Health Clinic, ending general assistance for asylum-seekers, limiting access to the city's homeless shelters, against a $64 million municipal bond to renovate elementary schools, and against the city's passage of the nation's toughest pesticide ban mandating organic lawn management which when passed over his objections he underfunded.{{cite news|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2017/01/06/portland-manager-discusses-strained-relationship-with-mayor-concerns-about-school-bond/| title=Portland manager discusses strained relationship with mayor, concerns about school bond| publisher=Portland Press Herald| date= January 6, 2017}}{{cite news| url=https://www.pressherald.com/2021/11/01/jennings-era-comes-to-an-end-in-portland/| title=Jennings era comes to an end in Portland as city manager moves on| publisher=Portland Press Herald| date= November 1, 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2016/04/04/portlands-city-manager-presents-budget-that-would-close-india-street-clinic/| title=Portland's city manager presents budget that would close India Street clinic| publisher=Portland Press Herald| date= April 5, 2016}}{{Cite web |last=Strimling |first=Phil Harriman and Ethan |date=2021-06-17 |title=Opinion: City manager era appears over after Portland Charter Commission election |url=http://www.bangordailynews.com/2021/06/17/opinion/opinion-contributor/city-manager-era-appears-over-after-portland-charter-commission-election/ |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=Bangor Daily News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Billings |first=Randy |date=2019-04-08 |title=Portland budget proposal would cap number of people served at homeless shelters |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2019/04/08/portland-budget-proposal-would-cap-number-of-people-served-at-homeless-shelters/ |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=Press Herald}} In 2015, Jennings blocked implementation of a plan that was approved unanimously by the City Council to redesign Franklin Street following a long community process. The plan was revived in 2023, two years after he resigned.{{Cite web |last=Schroeder |first=Nick |title=Portland set to revive plan to redesign Franklin Arterial {{!}} The Portland Phoenix |url=https://portlandphoenix.me/portland-set-to-revive-plan-to-redesign-franklin-arterial/ |access-date=2023-02-16 |language=en-US}}

Jennings had long-running feud with elected Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling and faced sharp criticism from local Black Lives Matter activists, who in 2020 called for him to be fired.{{cite news|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2017/07/14/portland-city-manager-goes-on-offensive-accuses-mayor-of-lying/| title=Portland city manager goes on offensive, accuses mayor of lying| publisher=Portland Press Herald| date=July 14, 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://mainebeacon.com/black-lives-matter-calls-for-the-dismissal-of-portland-city-manager/| title= Black Lives Matter calls for the dismissal of Portland city manager| publisher=Maine Beacon| date=June 20, 2020}} Elected members of the city council defended Jennings against the criticisms from Black Lives Matter.{{cite news|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2020/06/06/portland-mayor-councilors-defend-city-manager-after-protesters-criticism/| title= Portland mayor, councilors defend city manager after protesters' criticism| publisher=Portland Press Herald| date=June 8, 2022}} However, Portland voters in 2021 voted to create a charter commission to consider various changes to the city's form of government, including eliminating the office of city manager and replacing it with an elected, executive mayor.{{cite news|url=https://portlandphoenix.me/portland-charter-commission-nears-proposal-to-empower-elected-mayor/| title= Portland Charter Commission nears proposal to empower elected mayor| publisher=Portland Phoenix| date=March 2, 2022}}

Jennings resigned as city manager in 2021, before his contract expired, pointing to ongoing criticism from anti-racism activists as his reason for leaving.{{cite news|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2021/11/01/jennings-era-comes-to-an-end-in-portland/| title= Jennings era comes to an end in Portland as city manager moves on| publisher=Portland Press Herald| date=November 1, 2021}}

=Clearwater=

On September 2, 2021, the Clearwater city council voted to hire Jennings as its next city manager.{{cite news |last1=McManus |first1=Tracey |title=Clearwater taps Portland, Maine, leader as first new city manager in 20 years |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2021/09/02/clearwater-taps-portland-maine-leader-as-first-new-city-manager-in-20-years/ |access-date=11 November 2021 |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=September 2, 2021}} In December 2021, Jennings met with Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige, who has stirred controversy by purchasing extensive real estate in downtown, much of which sits vacant.{{Cite web |title=Downtown development talks deepen between Clearwater and Scientology |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2021/12/18/downtown-development-talks-deepen-between-clearwater-and-scientology/ |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}} In 2022, Jennings was accused of helping the Church of Scientology cancel a planned 81-unit affordable housing project in order that the church could open a museum to its founder on the site instead.{{Cite web |last=Times |first=TRACEY McMANUS, Tampa Bay |title=Clearwater officials clash over project: ‘You and I can settle it outside’ |url=https://www.tbnweekly.com/clearwater_beacon/article_723c5ed0-3904-11ed-a583-07d8145397d7.html |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=TBNweekly |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Clearwater housing project had a green light. Then Scientology stepped in. |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2022/09/11/clearwater-housing-project-had-a-green-light-then-scientology-stepped-in/ |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}} On January 5, 2023, the Clearwater city council voted in the second of two required votes to terminate the contract of Jennings as City Manager with immediate effect, citing long term and growing concerns over Jennings lack of communication with them, focusing on late and incomplete delivery of information needed for important votes and being kept in the dark in matters involving the Imagine Clearwater project and discussions with Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige.{{Cite web |title=Clearwater council fires city manager, citing long-standing concerns |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2023/01/05/clearwater-council-fires-city-manager-citing-long-standing-concerns/ |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}