Pensacola News Journal from Pensacola, Florida • 4

4A Pensacola News Journal Sunday, September 14, 2003 Page edited by Sandra Brown; 435-8538 after 4 p.m. LOCAL Fate of ChilderSji Junior, Elliott is in legal limbo Scarborough scripts new career, life I 4 I 't r': husband, Joe, who is receiving cancer treatment. Her greatest agony right now is that her father, who saw his son-in-law acquitted, did not live to see the outcome of her case. "I know that I'm innocent, but it's just a process of proving it," she said. "I have to go to court and get it over with.

I'm sick of it." Georgann Elliott is the president of Elliott Properties because her husband's illness limits his activities. He acts as an agent for the company. The basic allegation against Georgann Elliott is that she withdrew $10,000 from a credit union and bank so her husband could bribe Junior for the county's purchase of the soccer complex. Joe Elliott's acquittal does not affect the charges against her. In Georgann El FROM 1A sioners in the spring of 2002.

The Elliotts and Childers were accused of bribery to ensure the county's purchase of the defunct soccer complex for $3.9 million. Junior never was charged in the land sale but agreed to testify on the state's behalf. Rather, he was charged with trying to extort money from local businessmen as they tried to push their projects through the County Commission. Then-Commissioners Terry Smith, Mike Bass, Childers and Junior were accused of holding private conversations that violated the state Sunshine Law, which requires public officials to conduct public business in the open. Of the six people charged, Joe Elliott has been the only one ac quitted.

umiaers was convicted of two felonies, pleaded no contest to one Sunshine violation and was convicted of another. Junior pleaded no contest to 10 felonies and one Sunshine charge. Smith was convicted of two Sunshine charges, and Bass pleaded no contest to two Sunshine charges. "We've been very successful," Golden said. "We've gotten convictions on everyone but Joe Elliott.

We "We've successful. gotten commissioners everything, we've them something, has kept of State Curtis been very We've convictions not going to act like a crazy man. Spotty reception Ratings so far are mixed. According to Hollywood Reporter, Fox News Channel was the only cable news service in August to increase viewership from a year ago. By comparison, CNN decreased 9 percent in primetime and total day, while MSNBC lost 21 percent in primetime and 11 for the day.

The good news for MSNBC is that its viewership increased 4 percent from July. "Scarborough Country" attracted 254,000 viewers in August, according to Nielsen Media Research. That's an increase from last year's low-rated "Ashleigh Banfield" shown in the same time slot, but far from impressive. "Look at it like this: If they lit up the homes on a map of those who were watching Joe's show, there would be a dotted light in the Pensacola area," says Pensacola's Kenneth Lamb, a local radio talk show host and free-lance journalist. "The rest of the country would be black." Scarborough's not obsessed with ratings.

He knows his show isn't a quick fix. MSNBC brought him in as part of a three-year plan. He thinks it'll get there. The show's only in its fifth month. Give it time.

Main attraction What Scarborough does know is this: Folks aren't watching his show for lively debate. They're not tuning in to see what's happening in Pakistan. They're tuning in for him. To hear a conservative-libertarian take on world issues. He told Vanity Fair in a spread that pictured him grinning in his boxers that he was just going to be, Regular Joe, because that's what works.

Research shows "Scarborough Country's" most popular segments are Joe segments. "The Real Deal" editorial that begins each show and mirrors Bill O'Reilly's "Talking Points" on Fox news. The "Joe's Got Issues" feature and "The Buzz," an idea he brought over from his old newspaper, The Independent Florida Sun. Back on the PJC set, Scarborough delivers "The Buzz," touching on Democratic presidential hopeful Dick Gephardt, Taliban prisoners and Simon and Gar-funkel. He appears relaxed, hunching slightly.

He has slipped off his sandals and placed his bare feet on the table stand. Around him, everyone listens through an earpiece. Scarborough usually has no trouble FROM1A Jenna Pecevich, 24, a Scarborough assistant who helps with makeup, informs Scarborough that she watched the show last week, one taped in Secaucus, N. at the MSNBC studios. "I thought you looked tired," she says.

"Really? Everybody else said I didn't look tired." "Not tired. I thought you acted fatigued." An MSNBC producer gets Scarborough's attention through an earpiece stuck inside his right ear. "Fifteen seconds." Scarborough glances at his notes. The floor manager counts down. The show goes live.

"Tonight on 'Scarborough the president's pitch to the people in Congress. Will his request for $87 billion for Iraq create political backlash here at home?" Truth is, Scarborough isn't tired. He's exhausted. He used to get to bed at 9 p.m. Now he doesn't get home until after 10, and it usually takes an hour to unwind.

Long days He remains on the payroll at the Levin, Papantonio law firm, but Fred Levin acknowledges Scarborough devotes most of his time to the show. (Not that Levin is complaining; Scarborough's image is great for business.) Scarborough awakes early to help get Joey, the oldest of three, off to school. They leave the house around 7:15. On the way home, before his daily stop at Bagel-heads, Scarborough phones MSNBC and starts planning. The network once selected topics.

Now Scarborough chooses. He meets with Yates every morning at 11 to brainstorm. He eats lunch. From there, he works on the show nonstop. He decides which guests to bring in, what clips to show, what quotes to pull out.

The show sends him scripts around 5. Scarborough edits them, puts them into his words, starts thinking about the debate between guests. He's amazed at how much freedom the network has given him, especially given their creative differences. He knows this will shock Pensacola folks, but the network used to "jump on him" for being too sedate. They wanted Scarborough to rant and rave.

To wave his arms and get upset. Finally, Scarborough told them: This isn't working. It's not me. If Fm upset, 1 11 act upset. But if not, I Bruce GranerPensacolaNewsJournal.com Joe Scarborough kids around with Mike Papantonio before a live broadcast of "Scarborough Country" at the WSRE-TV studios.

Scarborough still is on the payroll at the Levin, Papantonio law firm but devotes most of his time to his MSNBC show. Scarborough ratings The ratings for Joe Scarborough's "Country" are much lower than similar shows on other news networks, but it could be the neighborhood he lives in. For a recent ratings period: Show Estimated Viewers The O'Reilly Factor" (Fox News) 2,1 68,000 "News Night" (CNN) 758,800. "Scarborough Country" (MSNBC) 325,200 Network Total-day average Fox News Channel 739,000 CNN .....417,000 MSNBC ...201,000 Source: Nielsen Media Research the of but convicted all of which them out office." Attorney Golden liott's first trial, Mimi Bass, te ex-wife of former Commissioner Bass and a consultant on the sale, testified that Joe Elliott told her he had (Jo pay off an unidentified commissioner. Furthermore, Junior testified that Joe Elliott gave him $10,000 the day before the soccer complex vote.

However, Georgann Elliott arid other witnesses testified the money was spent on cosmetic surgery family member and on Christies gifts. The June 20d2 on everyone but Joe Elliott. We haven't convicted trial in Pensacola before Circuit Judge Tom Remington ended with the jury deadlocked, 3-3. The retrial before Acting Circuit Judge Kelvin Wells is to take in Crestview because of extensive publicity here. Just before the retrial was to begin in November, Wells ruled Mimi Bass could not testify about Joe Elliott's alleged comment lo her unless the prosecution coujd show she had knowledge of criminal conduct.

Assistant State Attorney John Simon appealed to the 1st District Court of Appeal, arguing that because Joe Elliott worked for Georgann Elliott, he was acting as ai agent for her, making the comment admissible. The appeals court could rule at any time. Once that ruling is final, the trial will be rescheduled, probably within 90 days. I Junior's low profile Junior almost certainly will go to prison. The question is: How long? If prosecutors decide he testifies truthfully, they will recommends term of no more than 18 months.

If they decide he doesn't, he could get up to 125 years. Junior, like Childers, was a high-profile politician who liked to zip around town in his Corvette. In addition to being a county commissioner, he also was ownr of Junior Funeral Home and director of the Community Action Program. He, too, now maintains a lorw profile and could not be reached for comment. He also lost all of his jobs.

"He stops by the office from time to time," said Charles Liberis, one of Junior's attorneys. "He seems to be fine." '70; IT I reading the teleprompter. Some nights he claims people can throw coffee cups at his head and he wouldn't miss a beat. But this night, he stumbles over a few words, causing the teleprompter to slow and, at one point, stop completely, waiting for the host to catch up. At 9:58, he responds to a final e-mail on air, then closes the show.

Scarborough waits, smiling at the camera. His work day is finished. "Guys, great show," he tells directors and producers in New Jersey. "Great debate, great everything. Even though I had a tired mouth there at the end, yall did a great job." Scarborough has to fly to New York the next morning to tape a bept.

11 show from ground zero. He bemoans the lack of sleep but doesn't complain. It could be worse. He could be back in politics. Seat of power He says he doesn't miss it.

Too much frus tration. So many Congressional members, so much negotiating. Plus, he's found that he can provoke change right from his place in front of the camera, bare feet and all. In June, he criticized Washington lawmakers for awarding WorldCom which Scarborough claimed defrauded Americans out of billions a $45 million contract to provide phone service to Iraq. As a result, senators investigated.

On a smaller scale, he led a protest against pro-Fidel Castro actor Danny Glover, which got the actor dropped as a celebrity spokesman for long-distance company MCI. "You just can't effect that kind of change that quickly in Congress," Scarborough said. At times, he feels overwhelmed. The show sprouted quickly. One day Scarborough just happened to pick up the phone and hear the voice of Phil Griffin, MSNBC vice president of primetime programming.

He asked if Scarborough wanted his own show. Scarborough thought he was joking. Now he's filming it from his hometown, something locals have a hard time grasping. Scarborough can't tell you how many times he's walked into Bagel-heads or the grocery store and seen strange looks. "Oh, I guess you must have taped last night's show?" "No," Scarborough says.

"You just caught a late flight back from New York?" "No," Scarborough says. "I did it at He figures it's a good way to show off the community. Plus, it keeps him with his family. That's what I said to MSNBC at the beginning," Scarborough said. "I left Congress because I didn't want to commute all the time.

This is easier. It's a heckuva lot better doing a five-minute commute than a five-hour commute." Especially when you wait until the last minute to leave. haven't convicted the commis- sioners of everything, but we've convicted them all of something, which has kept them out of office." Childers' appeal After 32 years as West Florida's most powerful and colorful politician, Childers is living a low-profile life. He did not return a telephone call for comment. "He seems to be doing well," said his longtime friend, Pensacola attorney Fred Levin.

"He seems to be in good health. He's been visiting his daughter in South Florida. He's very confident the appeal will come out in his favor." Childers was released from Escambia County Jail on June 19 after County Judge T. Patterson Maney and Circuit Judge Jere Tolton granted him $10,000 bonds in his misdemeanor and felony cases. He had.

served 38 days toward his 60-day sentence in the Sunshine case. He was scheduled to begin his 30-month state prison sentence on July 2, upon completion of the jail sentence. Trisha Pate of the Attorney Gen-f eral's Office will argue for the state in the bribery case, She expects Childers' Richard Lubin of West Palm Beach, to his argument near' the end of September. She will file an answer, and Lubin will file his The 1st District Court of Appeal likely will take even a year, to make its decision. There's, not much happening right now," Pate said.

Lubin could not be reached for New Elliott trial Georgann Elliott has been focusing on caring for her father, who recently died of and her i A i-v i ALL'S FAIR: Joe Scarborough was featured in the September issue of Vanitv Fair maaazine. His cable show aarnered a 4 mention in the following issue of the same magazine. Sikes' vast collection on auction block 1 r' 1 i i mji if I FROM 1A After Sikes' death, his property became the subject of a bitter dispute between his children and his third wife, Joan Sikes, now deceased. A court ordered that Joan Sikes had legal rights to the estate, and now her family members control the Sikes' estate. What's included in the estate auction is vast: More than three dozen stuffed hunting trophies.

His military uniform. Dozens of firearms, including weapons dating back to the Revolutionary War. Various plaques and awards. Boxes upon boxes of correspondence between Sikes and his constituents and his fellow politicians. "You've got all his medals, his Bronze Star, his artwork and a lot of political and historical memorabilia," said Robert Garth, whose family owns the auction house.

"We've got a Cape Buffalo and lots of other (hunting trophies) he shot in the southern part of Africa, as 4 i Not everyone is pleased that Sikes' estate especially items with historical and political significance is being auctioned. "My feeling is that those things belong to the public domain," said Joe Barley, 50, of Crestview, who worked for Sikes in 1979 and 1980. "I know Mr. Sikes wanted those things available to the public and to scholars to have access to, not for everything to be sold to the highest bidder and then disappear to the far corners of the Earth." Even some people who purchased estate items in June believe the auction might not best serve the public. "It's a shame, but it should be a reminder that if people don't leave a will, these kinds of things will happen," said Joe Gilchrist, owner of the Flora-Bama Lounge, who purchased Sikes' congressional desk and other items at the June auction.

"I think the papers and library stuff especially could have been a tremendous resource for our area." Special 10 ine News Journal Bob Sikes of Crestview was an avid hunter and gun collector. The estate of the long-serving Democratic congressman, including his many weapons and political correspondence, are up for bid. well is in Iran, Indonesia and other places. "There are letters and correspondence on Watergate and the impeachment hearings. There's just a lot of everything." About 400 people attended the first phase of the estate auction in June, Garth said.

The auction house would not divulge how much the June auction netted, but Garth said a Confederate pistol brought in the most money more than $5,500. Tony GibersonPensacolaNewsJournal.com Robert Garth displays some of the items from the estate of the late U.S. Rep. Bob Sikes that will be auctioned off Saturday by Garth's Antiques and Auction Gallery. The auction will feature items from Sikes' military, political and hunting exploits.