Florida Today du lieu suivant : Cocoa, Florida • 3

FLORIDA TODAY SATURDAY, JANUARY 1,2011 3A Eflis known for not mincing words ELLIS, from 1A pull your hair out. "1 don't deal well with most other politicians in Brevard County," he said. The outspoken conservative has served as clerk of courts since 2001, when he replaced Randy "Sandy" Crawford. Ellis' replacement is former state Rep. Mitch Needelman, who starts work For FLORIDA TODAY Lookout.

Laurilee Thompson spots birds at the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge last month. Bird numbers remain stable 1 yfr) Ellis defeated Needelman in a mudslinging match-up in the 2008 Republican primary during that campaign, Ellis likened his opponent to "a blind, toothless hound." BIRDS, from 1A In the August primary, Needel man defeated two candidates to succeed Ellis, who had announced his resignation this spring. The former foes met after Labor Day weekend, and Ellis hired Needel man in early November as a $10-per-hour part-timer to help ease the transition. Rik Jesse, FLORIDA TODAY See you later, Scott Ellis gets a hug from his secretary, Vicki Robinson, who has worked with him the entire time he has been in office. "He should be able to hit the ground running," Ellis said.

Needelman called the transition been presenting numbers to them for years. And it just never sank in to anybody," Ellis said, hitting his hand on the table for emphasis. "It's just horrible. You know something, you just get so frustrated after the years. Everything that you told them back in '04, '05 and '06, here it is.

And none of them were prepared. "Everybody thought that the party would never end, and that the sky was the limit, the money would just keep pouring in. "And I don't care if you're the state Legislature, county commission, city councils, the school board. You can't take a house and triple the value in five years when median income barely goes up and think that's real," he said. "It's not real." Last month, commissioners honored Ellis with a congratulatory resolution and a standing ovation.

The resolution praised Ellis' work ethic and stated he was "never at a loss for words and always ready to defend his perspectives." "You're all in favor of me moving to West Virginia?" Ellis asked commissioners from the public podium, breaking into loud laughter. Commissioner Trudie Infantini, a former auditor in Ellis' department, read the resolution aloud. E-mail exchanges show she asked Ellis for political advice numerous times during her first two years in office. "He's the reason why I'm in office now. He opened my eyes to what's taking place," Infantini said.

"He was an inspiration. "He has insight and back history that I don't have. At times, he has been able to shed light on subjects that I don't have the full background on. I have told Scott I will continue to work as the watchdog for the taxpayers that he was," she said. In February, Ellis hopes to scout farm sites in three rural counties northeast of Charleston: Roane (14,870 residents), Clay (10,022) and Calhoun (7,1 18).

"I'm not looking to make a lot of money. But you know, if I make $10,000, $15,000 a year, I'm in good shape," Ellis said. "I really don't look at is as retirement. I'm going to get up every a "godsend." He visited each department and division, assembled what he believes is a strong staff of last year, although the numbers are preliminary. Foul weather up north usually pushes plentiful fowl here, especially around the holidays.

But Steel suspects there may be fewer birds this winter because a lack of hurricanes and other storms dried out wetlands and increased their salt content, which altered plant life. "Over the last several years we've had relatively the same numbers," Steel said. Decades ago, Cocoa's circle was among the highest counts in the country, luring some of the biggest names in birding. Twice Cocoa held the national record, led by the vision of Brevard's most widely known birder, naturalist Allan Cruickshank. A pioneer of the methodology used in the counts, Cruickshank pushed NASA to set aside 140,000 acres as a buffer around the space center, establishing the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, where Steel's counttakes place.

advisers and spent hours poring over and understanding the "You put the politics aside and you roll up your sleeves and you go The job The Brevard County Clerk of Courts maintains court records for criminal felony and misdemeanor cases; civil, family, probate and small claims proceedings; juvenile cases; and traffic citations. The department also issues marriage licenses; handles jury summons and juror fees; serves as clerk to the Brevard County Commission; and processes passport applications. Annual salary for the clerk of courts is $139,762. Amy Kneessy, vice chairwoman of the Brevard County School Board, said she grew frustrated with Ellis during their public, passionate 2009 clashes over school financing. "He was making broad statements on limited information," Kneesysaid.

"To be honest, I've been appreciative that he hasn't been blasting the school board and school officials this past year especially with our quarter-mill levy on the ballot that just passed. I was expecting that, and I was prepared for that," she said. To that end, Kneesy said she was glad their political relationship was ending "on a positive note." "He has no problems challenging people. And I have no problem with that. I wish him the best," she said.

Ellis is also known for circulating widely read fiscal projections and predictions, warning of pending county bankruptcy and financial disaster particularly the real estatehousing bubble. After the shuttle program ends, he predicts 1960s-era Titusville block houses will sell for $25,000, and some Port St. John homes will tumble to the to "They just don't get it. Local government doesn't get it, and I've Today, Texas and California tend to dominate the counts. Cocoa still holds its own, though, averaging more than 160 birds over the past five years.

The Merritt Island count turned to work as a team, Neeoeiman said, adding as a joke that there was "no blood spill" between the two former political rivals. "With what he had to work with and the issues he had to deal with, he was able to survive," Needelman said of Ellis. "This recession is not over." Ellis served as county commissioner from 1992-96, lost a Florida Senate bid in 1996 to Patsy Kurth, and flirted last summer with a second Senate run against Thad Alt-man. During an interview at the Moore Justice Center in Viera, Ellis repeatedly smacked his hand on a table while bashing what he considers governmental "fluff," such as parks and recreation projects and libraries. Throughout his career, Ellis has irritated rivals and energized supporters by zealously railing against the Environmentally Endangered Lands program, pay raises for county workers, the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast and other topics.

up 174 species in 2008, the highest of any of the three Brevard circles in the past five years. Steel's been walking the Merritt Island circle since 1968. Example: Last January, Ellis issued chain e-mails blasting the commission's decision to continue banning horse manure on unincorporated roadways. He framed the debate in a context of lost civil liberties. "If you don't want horses, you can live in Satellite Beach or Titus-ville.

If you want a (homeowners association), you can get those too. The two male complainers at this Commission meeting are just Ellis wrote of two Canaveral Groves residents. "Floridaisalreadybecomingone massive Village and we are the Prisoners," he wrote. "We had several that we hadn't seen ever or rather rarely," he said of this month count. But what birders spy depends on being in the right place at the right time.

"It's just like guys that go fishing: Well, you should have been morning and bust ass and work, he said. Staff writer Mackenzie Ryan contributed to this report. Contact Neale at 242-3638 or rneale9florldatoday.com. here "bteel said. Contact Waymer at 321-242-3663 orJwaymereflorldatoday.com.

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