The INMA Winners

Best Metal/Hardcore: Imperial Shreds

Best Punk: FUSS

Best Rock: Deadly Fists of Kung Fu

Best Indie/Lo-Fi: Mi Capitan

Best Folk: Flat Broke Folk

Best Hip-Hop: Roy Jones Jr.

Best Jazz: The Salt Shakers

Best Spoken Word: Nacirfa

Best Vocals: T.J. Jeter

Best Live Show: Cockfight

Best Venue: The Gutter Lounge

Best Newcomer: FUSS

Best DJ: Ram-Z

Lifetime Achievement Award: Kent Stanton

Album of the Year: Mi Capitan “This is Only a Test”

Artist of the Year: Terrific Kid

Jim Paul Wins High Stakes Showdown

By Duwayne Escobedo

Jim Paul bursts into the room, rips off his tie, throws his arms wide open and breaks into song.His short, impromptu performance takes his guests, an Independent News reporter and a photographer, a little bit off guard.

Why is this man acting so happy?

“The next four years may be a little more enjoyable this time,” Paul answers.

More enjoyable because voters made the former high school social studies teacher the first Escambia County Superintendent re-elected in 23 years. More enjoyable because voters got rid of school board nemeses John DeWitt and Linda Finkelstein.

What makes Paul even happier is how soundly voters made their decisions.

Paul earned 64.8 percent in the general election after winning 58.4 percent in the Republican primary. Not only did Paul pull down more votes than any other incumbent, his 88,247 votes fell short of only U.S. Senator Mel Martinez, President George W. Bush and U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller in Escambia County.

And what about DeWitt and Finkelstein, who constantly bickered and battled with Paul throughout his first term? They lost big time at the polls. Newcomer Patty Hightower earned 58.5 percent of the vote in the primary, compared to DeWitt’s 22.8 percent. And then Pete Gindl, who served on the school board between 1958 and 1978, easily denied Finkelstein a second term on Nov. 2 by nabbing 53.8 percent of the vote.

PAUL’S MANDATE

The consensus among school system observers is in the high stakes showdown over the school system 1) Jim Paul won a mandate; and 2) The board and Superintendent better stop quibbling and start cooperating.

Jim Witt, a longtime local political expert, says voters sent an unequivocal message this round of elections.

“There’s only one way to look at this,” Witt says. “The voters think Jim Paul is doing a good job under the conditions he was working under and they elected two new school board members, so things will get done.”

It’s exactly how Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce President Charles Carlan reads it. He’s fed up with a school board that micro-manages and second-guesses Paul and his administration for apparently no good reasons.

“This is a very positive change,” Carlan says. “Hopefully, the new members will come in and work for a better school system, instead of fighting over trivialities. A good, coherent group can help us make a lot of progress.”

PROBLEMS, PROBLEMS

In the past, DeWitt, Finkelstein and current board member Cary Stidham, who faces re-election in 2006, teamed up against Paul and his staff.

The bitter fight reached its peak in May 2003 when the voting bloc ousted public affairs officer Ronnie Arnold during budget deliberations. The trio also threatened Steve Sharp’s position as safety director. Both worked on Paul’s 2000 campaign.

The DeWitt-Finkelstein-Stidham team tried to portray the cuts as cost-saving measures but many community leaders and citizens viewed it as simply petty politics and revenge against Paul for one of his administrators revealing an out-of-Sunshine meeting. Jerry Maygarden, Tim Wright, Betsy Smith and Peter Neumann were among community leaders who condemned the threesome’s actions.

Worse yet, the fight elevated thanks to a Pensacola News Journal hatchet piece on Paul that let the board members unleash their venom and try to paint Paul as weak and ineffectual—despite the facts.

To this day, Finkelstein maintains characterizations of her as a micro-manager are off base. But as school board chairwoman, she called about 65 meetings during the year.

Finkelstein didn’t speak with the Independent News but told the PNJ recently: “You need a plan, and it takes a lot of effort and a lot of work. If that translates into micro-managing, that’s a misconception.”

School Board member Gary Bergosh says the very public attacks hurt the school board and the school system.

“Voters obviously saw this and were disappointed in it,” says Bergosh, who’s in line to become board chairman this year. “They’re happy with the direction the Superintendent is going in. When he and I disagree we’re not screaming and yelling. It’s cordial and professional.”

NEW BEGINNING

Even though he could gloat, Paul says he accepts some of the blame for the divisiveness for not communicating better with past board members.

“Any time you have an executive and legislative branch you’ll have some tension and that’s not always a bad thing,” he says. “But you can’t have six leaders going six different directions.”

Gindl and Hightower both say, unlike their predecessors, that they like Paul and want to work with him.

Both bring experience to the board. Gindl, 68, served on the school board for 20 years previously, including 14 years as chairman. He also worked 18 years as a classroom teacher at Tate High School, before retiring in June 2003.

Hightower, the school district’s program coordinator for Take Stock in Children, a scholarship program for at-risk students, served as president of the Florida PTA from 2000 to 2002. She also works on the 1/2 Cent Watchdog Committee, which is ensuring the 1/2-cent sales tax is spent on approved projects.

“The voters sure felt like Finkelstein had her own little agenda and she went by it,” Gindl says. “The Superintendent is really the man with the plan and we vote and decide on it. The voters are telling me and the board that it’s time to sit down and work with the Superintendent and do things for our children.”

Hightower says as she and her campaign team knocked on about 5,000 doors in District 4 during the campaign, they heard the same thing.

“Mostly the voters said they were tired of the bickering and wanted cooperation,” she says. “They wanted the school board to concentrate on the schools and the educational system. I’m for a kinder, gentler society. The No. 1 thing to me is that we’re seen at the top as working together, not against each other.”

SEIZE THE DAY

For his part, Paul says he plans to have open lines of communication with Gindl and Hightower. That will include assigning an administrator to them to help facilitate any questions and a commitment to get back to them with answers within 24-hours.

“The voters have said, ‘OK, Jim, we’ve given you what you need, now let’s move forward,'” Paul says. “There’s a real responsibility to seize the moment. The responsibility is on me to make it happen. The CEO must lead by providing a vision and providing a plan. I intend to move forward and not merely provide rhetoric.”

Despite a sometimes raucous first term, Paul and his supporters point to several victories, including the number of “A” schools doubling and the district being graded as a “B” overall; teacher’s salaries increasing an average of 18 percent with some going up as much as 30 percent; the number of administrators being slashed 20 percent and the budget cut by $25 million; general fund reserves tripling; the public renewing a 1/2-cent sales tax despite an anti-tax mood; student enrollment increasing by more than 700 students the past two years after a seven-year decline; and the standardization of schools’ curriculums, which is credited for rising state test scores.

Deputy Superintendent Norm Ross says he believed the school district was on the right track under Paul’s leadership.

“We all knew we were doing a great job,” he says. “The election certainly confirms it. It’s nice knowing you have the voters’ confidence.”

TO THE MOON

Bergosh says he expects even more to be accomplished in the coming years, despite Hurricane Ivan dealing up to an $80 million blow to the district and weighing down the already financially-strapped system.

“I’m looking forward to the future,” he says. “This is going to be a good year. Paul has a good vision of where he wants to go.”

Paul and his team are in the middle of putting together their goals for the school system, which he plans to unveil in December.

Some items on Paul’s developing agenda include consolidating three inner-city schools into one new, super, high-tech school; reorganizing school district departments and schools; analyzing operations for more cost-saving measures; increasing safety and security measures; and continuing to raise school district employees’ pay among other things.

“I’m going to issue a vision to the school system akin to John F. Kennedy’s goal to put a man on the moon,” Paul says. “We need that kind of challenge in Escambia County. I will ask the school board to join me and together we will all do it. It’s time to get on board!”

duwayne@inweekly.net

The undoing of DeWitt & Finkelstein

SCHOOL UNIFORMS DeWitt was convinced that all public school students should wear school uniforms. Despite support from the Pensacola News Journal editorial board, he had little or no support from teachers, parents or students. But DeWitt pushed a school uniform policy through the school board. To date, only Cordova Park Elementary has adopted a mandatory uniform policy.

LOUIS FARRAKHAN Over the objections of Escambia County School District Superintendent Jim Paul, DeWitt and Finkelstein granted permission to rent the Pensacola High School auditorium for the anti-Semite and racist. A local affiliate of the Nation of Islam.broadcast the 90-minute pro-Saddam Hussein tirade by Farrakhan. It was not open to the local media.

MOMENT OF SILENCE In 2001, fellow board member Gary L. Bergosh proposed a moment of silence to begin the school day. DeWitt and Finkelstein both voted down the proposal, saying it was too much like school prayer.

NAMING MOLINO PARK ELEMENTARY For months students of Barrineau Park and Molino elementary schools worked on naming the new elementary school in Finkelstein’s district. School elections were held. The kids voted for “Dogwood Elementary.” Instead, Finkelstein discarded the kids’ choice at a board meeting and changed it to her own name—”Molino Park.”

CUTTING PUBLIC AFFAIRS POSITION The pair along with Cary Stidham pushed to cut Public Affairs Officer Ronnie Arnold and Safety Director Steve Sharp, citing cost savings. Both had worked on Paul’s 2000 campaign. The trio cut Arnold’s position in retaliation for Paul revealing an out-of-the-Sunshine meeting.

ETHICS INVESTIGATION During the shepherding of a $554,000 software deal for Scientific Learning with the school district, the Independent News reveals software firms that employed DeWitt did more than $1 million in business with the district. DeWitt also derailed contracts by competing software firms, the story revealed. The Ethics Commission recently found him guilty of violating state ethics and fined him $500.

What else did Escambia County school system Superintendent Jim Paul have to say after his history-making re-election?

REBUILDING AFTER IVAN’S $80 MILLION SUCKER PUNCH Luckily, we’ve built up our reserves and we haven’t robbed them for other things like they did in the past. Still, we didn’t expect Ivan. You can never have enough to cover an event like this one. Unfortunately, our insurance companies are moving a little slower than we want. We’re working with the governor’s office and state Rep. Holly Benson to help get things moving. We’ve got to pay our bills.

LOOKING AT BUDGET CUTS We don’t want to cause any undue fear or panic. But we are going to look at everything we do and the effect of what we’re doing. We’ll even look at outsourcing.

NEED FOR NEW SCHOOL I’d like to see a new school in our inner core that our parents, children and community can really be proud of. All of our schools there are so old. We might have to close three to build this one. It’ll cost about $20 million but we’ll find the money for it.

SCHOOL BOARD RELATIONS It has been testy. But any time you have an executive and legislative branch there’s bound to be tension. That’s not always a bad thing.But voters had something to say and they said it loud and clearly. A friend of mine told me, “Jim, Southern people don’t like things messy.’ Things got messy with the old board. This is absolutely a new beginning with a new board–and this is not just rhetoric–I intend to work together and move forward. It works both ways.

RUBBER STAMPS Micro-managing was a very significant issue in this election. School board members do not have to be rubber stamps and we don’t want them to be. On the other hand, don’t be obstructionists just because your feelings got hurt or just because you’ve gotten used to saying, “No.’

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER GARY BERGOSH His attitude is a refreshing one. Some might say he’s the only ally I’ve ever had on the board. But Gary does not always vote with the Superintendent. But we talk out our differences in private and things are OK.

WINNING ELECTIONS When I ran for Congress in 1994 and lost to Joe Scarborough, Buck Lee, Lois Benson and Basil Bethea my father whispered in my ear, “Son, it just doesn’t matter.’ I was mad. But there was truth in what my father said. Most things we deal with aren’t worth losing sleep over. It doesn’t matter very much. We make ourselves and our issues out to be too important.

WINTER HAVEN PASTOR AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER REV. RONNIE CLARK I don’t see Ronnie Clark very much. He comes up here maybe once a month. There are things I wish he was up here for, so we could talk about them. We need a new inner-city school and I could use his help, if he was here.

HIS PHILOSOPHY ON POLITICS It might sound somewhat naïve. But I do it for only one reason, because it’s the right thing to do. I told my senior staff, if I ever become professionally arthritic, like most politicians seem prone to do, then do everything you can to make sure I don’t get reelected.

IMAGE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT The image has improved. This is a “B’ school district. That’s far from failing. We’ve done all that and we’re considered the poorest county in the state of Florida and one of the poorest in the country. That’s a credit to our teachers, students and parents who are doing a marvelous job.

Kickin’ It

By Sam Baltrusis

WITH ‘A CHORUS LINE’

The magic of Pensacola Little Theatre’s “A Chorus Line” is that there is no singular sensation. The flashy dancing, the gut-wrenching music and the brutal honesty—all weave together into a cohesive work of art. Every piece, every character, is an integral part of the whole.

Yeah right. Cut the crap. And save the drivel for Gannett.

The true beauty of “A Chorus Line” is its uncompromising attitude and emotional range. The music can fade from a dramatic boo-hoo fest like “What I Did For Love” to the light-hearted sap of “Tits & Ass,” without skipping a beat.

And, then there’s the dance.

Kaleidoscope & Ballet Pensacola’s Artistic Director Bobby Ball steps away from his pas de deux ivory tower and high-kicks some stellar choreography into the mix. With Ball, comes 17-year-old ballet phenom Aaron Carr (Mike) and veteran faves Monique Griffin (Sheila) and Angela Baroco (Diana) who were a part of the original PLT “A Chorus Line” production 15 years ago.

Now, let’s meet the players:

ANGELA BAROCO, 32, (Diana)

The character: The script calls for an energetic, humorous Puerto Rican who speaks from the heart. “Diana always sees the bright side of things,” Baroco says. “I played her 15 years ago and I have a completely different understanding of her now. With age comes wisdom. It’s been great having the opportunity to play her again because I love her optimism.”

You’ve seen Baroco before: Performed her first show 21 years ago and has acted in a total of 36 musicals. Played the same character, Diana, in the PLT’s original production of “A Chorus Line” 15 years ago.

Diana’s story line: Eternal optimist who performs “What I Did For Love” and “Nothing.” Paul’s best bud.

Off-stage: Native Pensacolian. Attended Vanderbilt. Currently, Baroco is a security consultant and market manager for Sonitrol.

Too hot for P’cola? “There are some people out there who will have a problem with the content,” Baroco says. “It’s the kind of stuff you could talk about in a typical high school science class. It’s not a big deal.”

Lowdown: “It’s a high-energy show with strong singing and dancing,” Baroco adds. “People need to get away from it all for awhile, especially after Ivan. It’s nice to be able to come back and do this show. The floor was damaged and they had to come in and refinish it. They had to rip out the carpeting in the orchestra pit and replace it. In many ways, the theatre is in better shape than before.”

AARON CARR, 17, (Mike)

The character: Mike is an Italian tap dancer from New Jersey who is used to being teased.

You’ve seen Carr before: Male lead of Kaleidoscope & Ballet Pensacola’s “Pied Piper.” Accepted into the American Ballet Theatre as a National Training scholar in NYC over the summer. Next up for Carr is Kaleidoscope & Ballet Pensacola’s “Nutcracker.”

Mike’s story line: He’s a strong dancer and is part of a large Italian family of 12 kids. “He’s the dance version of the All-American football kid,” Carr says. “He’s kind of like a dance jock.” Mike has the first solo after the opening number called “I Can Do That.”

Off-stage: Senior at Washington High School.

Too hot for P’cola? “I’m mature enough and at an age where I can handle the show’s content,” Carr says. “Friends of my parents have asked if they can bring their children and I’m warning them that some of the content is risqué. But, as a whole, it’s a great show with only a few questionable parts.”

Lowdown: “This is my first musical-theatre acting show,” Carr gushes. “Last night, we were using microphones and it was totally strange because we don’t talk in ballet. I never open my mouth. For my audition, I sang ‘Happy Birthday’ because I didn’t know what to do.”

MONIQUE GRIFFIN, 35, (Sheila)

The character: The script describes Sheila as a gorgeous comic actress. “I’m a gorgeous, comic actress?” Griffin muses. “Oh sure, that’s me.” Sheila is more of a weathered performer. “She realizes that if she doesn’t get this show, that’s it for her. At the end of ‘A Chorus Line,’ she mentions that she wants to open up her own dance studio,” the performer adds.

You’ve seen her before: “I’ve done 30 some odd shows since I was 3,” Griffin quips. “I love doing musicals because I like to sing and, I like to know that even at my age, I’m still a triple threat.” Griffin was in the original “A Chorus Line” at the PLT.

Sheila’s story line: Sheila’s mother married at a young age and her father neither loved nor cared for them. She realizes that dance is a relief from her family life. “She had a father who couldn’t keep his fly closed,” Griffin says. “Her mother was a ballerina and gave up her dreams to be with her dad and raise her daughter.”

Off-stage: Substitute high school teacher and single mother of a 9-year-old.

Too hot for P’Cola? “I don’t think so,” Griffin bites. “It’s real life. People experience the stuff we talk about in ‘A Chorus Line’—whether they want to admit it, or not.”

Lowdown: “Throughout the show, Sheila is talking about drinking and smoking,” Griffin says. “By the end of it, she’s swallowed almost a whole bottle of Valium. She’s a smart ass with her guard up—but, as the show progresses, Sheila slowly lets go.”

JOLEIGH JARVIS, 29, (Judy)

The character: The script says Judy is a nervous, scatterbrained, warm and hopeful person. “We’ve taken a slightly different approach with Judy,” Jarvis says. “Instead of nervous, she’s more anxious.”

You’ve seen Jarvis before: Was a PLT regular in shows like “Tommy” and “Best Little Whore House in Texas.” Moved to New Orleans for grad school. Returned to the area and performed in “The Scarlet Pimpernel.”

Judy’s story line: One of the more seasoned dancers in the show. Originally from Texas and grew up with a sister who tormented her. “Judy is comedic with a little A.D.D. (Attention-Deficit Disorder),” Jarvis says. “She gets along with everyone,” Jarvis explains. “She thinks she’s funny when she tries to make a joke. But, usually the joke is way off.”

Off-stage: Jarvis works with the Northwest Florida Arts Council.

Too hot for P’cola? “I know we’ve done other shows with more over-the-top adult content,” she comments. “Nothing in ‘A Chorus Line’ is gratuitous. All of it has a point and the content never gets too graphic.”

Lowdown: “There’s a least one person in the show that the audience can identify with,” Jarvis says. “There’s no star in ‘A Chorus Line.’ Everyone has to pull their weight.”

sam@inweekly.net

What: ‘A Chorus Line’
When: 8 p.m. Friday Nov. 12, 19 & Saturday Nov. 13, 18; 2:30 p.m. Sunday Nov. 14, 21.
Where: Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St.
Cost: $22, $18 & $15
Details: 850-432-2042 or www.pensacolalittletheatre.com.

Stella Unleashed

By Sam Baltrusis

IGHT’S SWEET WEAPON

Stella Maxwell, Cruiserweight’s firecracker vocalist and reigning manic-panic princess of Austin’s indie music scene, is a bit drained. And kinda woozy. But what do you expect from a woman who’s giving blood in one of those pharmaceutical studies just to pay the bills?

“It’s hard to deal with the attention sometimes,” Stella says, calling from her hospital room after selling her plasma to earn some fast cash. “I love making the music that we create, but I don’t feel special because of it. The reality is that I still get sick. I have to do pharmaceutical studies to make money. I mean, I’m not that special really.”

Lounging in a hospital gown, Stella may not feel “special” now. But, give her a couple of months. With her brothers Urny and Yogi–and odd-man out bassist Dave Hawkins–Cruiserweight is about to explode.

The foursome’s new CD from Doghouse Records, “Sweet Weaponry,” will be released to the masses in February ’05. The industry buzz, already, is deafening. Based on the group’s new material, the Independent News is giving major thumbs-up in favor of the lil’ Austin band that could–pharmaceutical study scars and all. The sweet pixie with the big chops is being prepped for the big time. Poked and prodded, the 24-year-old juggernaut is ready to unleash “Goodbye Daily Sadness” to the mainstream. The real question is: Can you handle Cruiserweight?

.::Players: Stella Maxwell, 24, vocals; Urny Maxwell, 30, guitar; Yogi Maxwell, 28, drums; Dave Hawkins, 23, bass.

.::Family affair: Minus bassist Hawkins, three of the members of Cruiserweight are siblings. “They know I’m pretty tough,” Stella muses about her older brothers. “They all look after me to a certain degree. But, I look after them the same way,” she says.

.::Early daze: “Urny and Yogi were in a band before Cruiserweight. Urny has been in bands since he was 13. But, I always wanted to be an actor,” the former pre-school teacher explains. “Urny used to do open mic nights at coffee shops and we would always joke that someday we would be in a band together, if I moved to Austin. They pulled me into practice one day, and it just happened naturally.”

.::Making the video: The group’s new video, “Yellow Lights” is set at the psych ward of the abandoned Austin State Hospital. “Basically, because of the connections with our manager and his brother, we got a free video that looks really, really good. If we paid for the shoot, it would have easily been over $60,000,” she explains, adding that performing in a straight jacket is extremely uncomfortable. “The director was open to our ideas, but I don’t remember saying anything about being in an insane asylum,” Stella jokes. “It was the most surreal experience. Film people are just strange.”

.::New CD: Cruiserweight’s first mass produced full-length CD from Doghouse Records, “Sweet Weaponry,” is due to hit stores in February. “It’s been so long now,” she says about the waiting game with the new material. “In the past, we’ve put out a few EPs ourselves. We always wanted to put out a full-length CD, but we didn’t want to handle distribution. A bunch of labels expressed interest, but no one put a contract in front of us. We decided to go ahead and record it and Doghouse (Feable Weiner and the All-American Rejects) approached us.” The result is one of the most promising indie releases of 2005.

.::Lyrics: “Goodbye Daily Sadness,” Cruiserweight’s signature track and first single to be released on “Sweet Weaponry,” seems to be an ode to female empowerment and taking a stand against adversity. Not so fast. “It’s about a pair of shoes I had,” she says with a laugh. “I wanted to write a song of importance that pays tribute to something as seemingly arbitrary as a pair of shoes. I really loved those shoes,” she continues. “Some songs I write I struggle with, but “Goodbye Daily Sadness” came out really quick. To be honest, I wrote it in about an hour.”

.::Girl talk: “I was always told that girls aren’t supposed to be in bands,” Stella says. The vocalist says she fumes when people try to peg female-fronted acts as a gimmick. “I want our music to stand on its own. But, I do think people are quick to judge female-fronted bands. That categorization is hard to deal with, especially coming from other girls. I didn’t realize how many girls are so intimidated by one another. There are so many girls out there who just do not like female-fronted bands. It’s just sad.”

.::P’Cola ties: The band’s “coming out” show at Van Gogh’s, which has since become End of the Line Café, with Dynamite Boy is almost local legend–with the band selling tons of merch and exciting a steady fan base of P’cola’s underground scene. But, Stella points out that the band played at The Handlebar a year earlier to little or no fanfare. “It was the summer in 2000 and no one knew who we were. I remember getting to Pensacola the night before our show thinking it would be a good idea to sleep on the beach.” Think again. The vocalist woke up with crabs nipping at her toes and the harsh Florida sun glaring down on her face. “We were toast at that first show,” she remembers. “It was that second show in the area that people really noticed us,” Stella explains, adding that she “really loves the people, and the energy, in Pensacola.”

sam@inweekly.net

What: Rock ‘n’ Roll Bowlarama 2 with Cruiserweight
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13
Where: The Gutter Lounge, 3200 N. Palafox.
Cost: $8 all ages.
Details: 434-6411 or http://www.cruiserweight.com

Winners & Losers 11/11/04

By Rick Outzen

winners

DAVID STAFFORD Escambia County’s new supervisor of elections is set for life if he is able to follow the examples of his predecessors–Joe Oldmixon and Bonnie Jones. Those two held the elections post for the past 52 years by being fair and impartial. Stafford appears poised to shuck his Joe Scarborough minion mantle and become his own man.

Let’s hope that Stafford does his research and one of his first assignments is to review the residency status of bi-locational school board member Ronnie Clark. For the past year, Rev. Clark has lived and has been the pastor of the Hurst Chapel AME Church in Winter Haven–470 miles away. He was maintaining an apartment here, but is rarely in his district. It’s time this charade ends.

ESCAMBIA & SANTA ROSA REPUBLICAN PARTIES The Bushes needed to send each and every one of you a personal invitation to the inauguration. However, remember clip-on ties and leisure suits are no-nos.

The local Republican parties delivered 145,355 votes for President George W. Bush. For the entire state of Florida, the Bush-Cheney ticket out-polled Kerry-Edwards by only 381,210 votes. This means that our two counties supplied more than 38 percent of Bush’s victory margin. And every local Republican candidate won the general election.

So on second thought, go ahead and pack the clip-on ties and leisure suits. And if you want, fry bologna in your D.C. hotel room.

SOUTHERN DEMOCRATS This is your chance to wrestle control of the national party away from the liberal Yankee deputation. Your last great Southern hope was Bill Clinton, and now he calls New York City home. That’s right, a home and office in NYC! It’s time the Democrats figure out a way to reconnect to the NASCAR-loving, Duck-hunting, God-fearing Bubbas who vote. And it’s just not going to work nominating a New England-born, Yalie. That’s unless you dress him up like a Texas cowboy.

losers

LINDA FINKELSTEIN Linda, Linda. We’ll miss you. For the past four years, we’ve tried to tell you and your school board buddies that you were out of touch with your constituents. But you didn’t listen.

The final straw was not voting to replace the scoreboard at the Tate High School stadium.

You just didn’t understand how important sports are in this county and particularly at Tate, and that it wasn’t worth fighting Superintendent Jim Paul over.

But alas, there were so many things you never understood. As far as we know, you are the only incumbent ever beaten by a challenger that never left his kitchen table.

MICHAEL MOORE Let’s make a movie. Edit the flick so that it embarrasses President George W. Bush and builds support for Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kerry. Make a ton of money. Then watch 52 percent of the voters ignore “Fahrenheit 9/11” and re-elect Bush.

Maybe in four years you can make a movie trashing the next Democrat presidential candidate (Hilary Rodham Clinton?) and help her win.

Hollywood is irrelevant on the political scene–unless you’re Arnold. Girlie men need not apply.

ZOGBY INTERNATIONAL This polling giant blew its predictions of the presidential race almost as badly as the City of Pensacola’s advisors did in the Trillium referendum fiasco in 2003.

Zogby was caught napping by the emergence of a well-organized, faith-based electorate that placed moral values above all other election issues. This electorate doesn’t watch Saturday Night Live or John Stewart’s The Daily Show. They could care less what Los Angeles, New York, Chicago or Boston think about President Bush.

Somehow Zogby completely overlooked them–probably because they were in church when the pollsters called.

Outtakes 11/11/04

By Rick Outzen

SCHOOL BATTLE WON For the past four years, the Escambia County public school system has suffered through the power struggles between Superintendent Jim Paul and the school board triumvirate of John DeWitt-Cary Stidham-Linda Finkelstein.

The Independent News has been unforgiving in its analysis of these senseless, childish political maneuvers of the board. Dewitt-Stidham-Finkelstein seemed to delight in tying the hands of Paul and making the administrative staff jump through hoops. We hold fast to our belief that the school board members are policymakers, not micro-managers. It should not be a full-time, 8-to-5 job.

This year’s elections proved that Escambia County voters agreed with our views as they booted both DeWitt and Finkelstein from office. In this issue, Editor Duwayne Escobedo interviews the superintendent and looks at the election and what the future may hold for our public schools.

LET THE SUNSHINE IN While the daily newspaper and a WCOA radio personality moan about how complicated the Florida Sunshine Law is to follow, we have been strong advocates of the public records and open meetings law. They are the best defense against backroom politics.

The League of Women Voters is hosting a public forum at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13 at the Pensacola Junior College Hagler Auditorium, near the corner of 9th Avenue and Underwood Avenue. The topic is Florida’s Open Government Law, better known as the Sunshine Law. The speaker is Karen Camechis, director of the Florida First Amendment Foundation in Tallahassee. Camechis plans to discuss the importance of protecting the public’s access to government records and meetings.

The First Amendment Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1984 by the Florida Press Association, the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors and the Florida Association of Broadcasters to ensure that public commitment to progress in the area of open government does not become diluted during Florida’s changing times.

We suggest that newly elected Escambia County Commissioner Kevin White attend. The past two commissioners from District 5 violated the Sunshine Law. Terry Smith was removed from office after his conviction of discussing county projects with engineers and fellow commissioner W.D. Childers at Whataburger. A grand jury decided Janice Gilley, who was appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush to complete Smith’s term, also violated the law by not advertising her fire safety taskforce’s meetings, but the jury believed there was no criminal intent. So they did not prosecute Gilley, and she was allowed to complete her term.

There are odds being posted in Biloxi and Las Vegas whether White will break the two-commissioner streak of Sunshine violations.

Emmanuel, Sheppard & Condon, Panhandle ACLU, and the Independent News are sponsoring the forum. For further information, contact Betty Enfinger at 438-2842.

MALPRACTICE MAYHEM This on-going medical malpractice battle between lawyers and doctors has now made it into our Florida Constitution. We are the losers.

Doctors put Amendment 3 on the ballot to limit the contingency fees that lawyers collect on malpractice awards. Lawyers countered with two amendments of their own. Amendment 7 makes hospital and doctors’ records about medical errors public. Amendment 8 requires the state to deny doctors licenses to practice if they have three medical malpractice judgments against them.

All three passed on Nov. 2. But sides lost. Lawyers argue that Amendment 3 will discourage them from taking malpractice cases, offering no recourse to many victims of medical error. The physicians say Amendments 7 and 8 will accelerate what they claim is a mass exodus of doctors from the state and from high-risk specialties.

It serves them right for using the state constitution to settle this complex malpractice problem. Lawyers are hit hard in the checkbook by Amendment 3. That will mean a lawyer will lose $250,000 in a million-dollar malpractice verdict.

Amendment 8 is the equivalent of a professional death penalty for doctors, clinics and hospitals. It will undoubtedly induce more doctors to settle lawsuits rather than risk losing their ability to practice in the state.

The only ones left untouched in this messy war are the insurance companies, which continue to rake in the high premiums.

DOWNTOWN RESURRECTION CONTINUES Bayfront Gallery, 713 S. Palafox, re-opened Nov. 5. Hurricane Ivan heavily damaged the gallery located one block from the Bayfront Auditorium. It’s great to see Kathy and Leighton Breazeale back in business. Their gallery is known for their unique blown glass, jewelry, ceramics, kinetic sculptures and paintings.

On the corner of Palafox and Wright Street, Eat! Wright@Palafox is now open for lunch and dinner. It’s an upscale downtown restaurant that is the perfect escape from hurricane recovery and election blues. I am excited to see our area continue to add unique, locally owned dining experiences.

As downtown reawakens, Independent News Martini Nights at The Global Grill continues to grow on Wednesday nights. Jim Andrews and friends provide the perfect accompaniment to a great time. It looks like a new tradition has been born. Come and join us.

Loaded Gun 11/11/04

By Sam Baltrusis

RUN FOR 2008 The 2004 campaign signs still stand alongside the roads. Winners have yet to be sworn in, but that hasn’t stopped talk about who’s going to run for what in 2008.

Rep. Holly Benson appears in line to make a run for state Sen. Charlie Clary’s seat. She has earned all the right committee appointments and could be formidable. The only catch is that Okaloosa County voters really control this district which means someone like Rep. Ray Sansom from Fort Walton Beach, with family and allies living in south Santa Rosa County, might have the edge.

The Buzz has heard that Santa Rosa School Superintendent Johnny Rogers won’t seek reelection in 2008. The most visible successor is former Gulf Breeze mayor and current school board member Ed Gray III. Gray has earned high marks for his business approach to leadership. Even though Gray is not an educator, Santa Rosa County voters only have to look to Okaloosa County to see how well Don Gaetz, another successful businessman, has done.

AFTER THE ‘FALL’ Theatrical savant and the INDEPENDENT NEWS’ fearless illustrator, GARY RUSSELL, spent the past two months on a movie set with “ORDINARY PEOPLE” actor-turned-director TIMOTHY HUTTON. The flick “HEAVEN’S FALL” revisits the SCOTTSBORO BOYS trial that captivated the world in the early 1930s. Hutton, who plays New York attorney SAM LEIBOVITZ in the historical narrative, defends nine African-American teens accused of raping two white women. Russell was Hutton’s personal assistant on set, shot at the same courthouse depicted in HARPER LEE’s “TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD” in Monroeville, Alabama.

Russell says the Academy Award-winning actor became his mentor. “Tim agreed if I got a haircut that he would work me into the movie,” Russell explains with a laugh. Hutton wrote in a small scene for the local actor. “I only had one line, but it was enough for me to get my SAG (Screen Actor’s Guild) card.” The 23-year-old Gulf Breeze native says he hung out with the cast, including up-and-coming Hollywood hottie LEELEE SOBIESKI. “We chilled, drank wine and pretty much talked all night. She had a carefree attitude about the whole acting thing,” Russell says, adding that the “EYES WIDE SHUT” vixen steered clear of the typical movie set shoptalk.

A rough cut of “Heaven’s Fall” is expected sometime after Thanksgiving. Industry insiders tell LOADED GUN that the flick will be a film festival fave, including a slot at the famed CANNES FILM FESTIVAL in France. Meanwhile, Russell is spending the next two months with his family in Gulf Breeze, planning a move to the Big Apple in January. “I already have a place on 105th and Broadway,” the budding filmmaker/actor explains. LOADED GUN will keep you posted.

IN THE BAG My NYC friends with ADPD, or Attention-Deficit Purse Disorder, say the latest rage in the “flavor of the weak” land of high-fashion accessories is BAGBORROWORSTEAL.com. Why settle for a cheapie imitation sack when you can rent the real thing? Bag ladies pay monthly fees–$19.95 for a “trendsetter” membership up to $99.95 to be a “diva”–and can rent-a-purse straight off the arms of the fashion world’s tote-able elite, like NICKY HILTON’s bowler bag created by SAMANTHA THAVASA and rapper-singer EVE’s FETISH line.

And, of course, giddy girls love the royals like FENDI, PRADA and GUCCI. And, there’s always JUICY COUTURE and KATE SPADE. Check the street value on some of these banged-out bags and the retailers can set you back as much as $1,000. Ka-ching!

Buyers beware: while “it” girls insist this is where to go to get a steady stream of “it” purses, the caveat comes in the form of handbag addiction. The e-commerce site, with its barrage of pricey purses, somehow taps into the inner “SEX AND THE CITY” junkie within. And, after a few loaners they simply adored and conveniently couldn’t return, my NYC gal pals have formed their own 10-step program for fellow rent-aholics jokingly called HANDBAGGERS ANONYMOUS.

BLING-BLING BOOKS Shelling out $400 for anything, much less an art book for music connoisseurs, seems a bit much. But the limited edition of “KILLER QUEEN”–devoted to that fallen ’70s rock glamster FREDDIE MERCURY–is flying off the racks. With only 2,500 copies in print, and 350 signed copies branded as the “deluxe edition” at $600 a pop, QUEEN fanatics and rock historians are snapping up the one-of-a-kind tomes at “BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY” warp speed.

The oh-so-clever Brits at Genesis Publications (www.genesis-publications.com) have crafted a slew of beautifully conceived, individualized creations that change with the subject of each project. “REBEL MUSIC,” the photo-driven book featuring reggae icon BOB MARLEY, for example, has an acid-free paper stock made from cannabis and is stored in a wooden box. RINGO STARR’s “POSTCARDS FROM THE BOYS” is a leather-bound postcard photo album featuring the front-and-back copies of notes sent to the drummer from his BEATLES brethren.

Over 30 years in the biz, Genesis still stocks special-edition treasures on DAVID BOWIE, BOB DYLAN and the ROLLING STONES. And, hopefully in time for Christmas, the prized publishing house will put out its anticipated issues on JIMI HENDRIX and PINK FLOYD. Better snatch them up while you can.

Letters & Opinions 11/11/04

HISTORIC DAY The big day, Nov. 2, has come and gone. The political ads, phone calls, and sign waving have disappeared for another three and a half years to the delight of many Americans. For those Americans who voted, they can take pride in the fact that they participated in a historic election.

The 2004 Election marks the first time in modern political history that Republican voter turnout matched Democratic turnout in a presidential election year. The share of Republican voters increased two points to 37 percent, and 6 million more Republicans voted in 2004 than in 2000.

President George W. Bush is the first president in sixteen years to win the majority of the popular vote with 51 percent. He increased his vote percentage from 2000 in 45 of 50 states, including a 4 percent increase in Sen. John Kerry’s home state of Massachusetts. President Bush also received a higher percentage of the popular vote than any Democrat since 1964; including 11.8 million more votes than Clinton in 1996.

Many of the historic gains were among minority voters and women. Of Latino voters, 44 percent backed President Bush, which is up from 35 percent in 2000 and exceeds the previous record for a GOP candidate—Ronald Reagan’s 37 percent in 1984.

Eleven percent of African-American voters supported the President, up from 9 percent in 2000. Meanwhile, 24 percent of Jewish voters backed Bush, rising from 19 percent; and 48 percent of women supported him, up from 43 percent in 2000.

Floridians feared a repeat of Election 2000 with voter errors and ballot malfunctions. As the news sources cautiously announced Florida’s results late on Election Day, Floridians knew the day had gone smoothly at the polls and the results were accurate.

Our friends, family and neighbors preferred Bush 52 percent to 47 percent, gathering almost 40 million more votes than Kerry. Our state officials worked diligently for the past four years correcting the mistakes that placed us in the national spotlight not so long ago.

Democracy rang true once again. Americans turned out to the polls in record numbers fulfilling their patriotic and civic duty to once again elect a man who is full of conviction, faith, is steadfast, and who adheres to core principles.

During trying times, Americans need resolute leadership. On Nov. 2, “we the people” elected the right leader, George W. Bush.

–U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, Chumuckla

GREAT SHOW Just writing to say thanks to the Independent News and A&E Editor Sam Baltrusis for supporting the local music scene. The Independent News Music Awards on Oct. 28 were a great way to showcase and make people aware of the local talent and venues.

Don’t stress on the fact that there are some people in the scene who hang on to every word you say with a literal noose. Remember, you can’t please everyone. Keep up the good work.

–Jeremy, Pensacola

THANKS FOR THE PROPS Thanks for mentioning me and the former Corsair staff in the Outtakes column, “PJC Paper Soars,” in the Nov. 4 Independent News.

I sent my mom out to get a few copies. I was a regular reader of IN when I lived in Pensacola and often used it as a model for direction while editor of The Corsair.

–Jim Ellis

ONE DEMOCRAT’S HUMBLE OPINION There’s no shame in losing a hard-fought race. The only shame is in losing so often you get comfortable with it. As a true Southern Democrat, I’m afraid that’s exactly what’s happening to our party now.

I’m not just talking about the Presidential elections or even the control of Congress. Those are symptoms of a much larger problem. What concerns me more are the large swaths of this country that were colored red on the election-night maps. The state maps revealed—and the county maps highlighted—the central problem facing Democrats in the new millennium: We’ve surrendered the heartland—and I fear the heart—of America.

Office by office, county by county, and state by state, we’ve retreated into a few, safe geographic and demographic strongholds. We’re playing a prevent defense and our opponents are gaining ground with each election cycle.

The South has been written off and the “party of Lincoln” is now also the party of Lincoln, Neb. Sadly, our current leaders seem to think that’s OK.

They complain about “voter ignorance” or how the masses have been duped. That’s loser talk. We need to make changes, not excuses.

Toward that end, I hereby offer up my two-cents’ worth on what our party can do to recapture some of what we’ve lost, especially in the South.

Say goodbye to Hollywood. The new Democrat battle cry ought to be, “Go, Michael Moore! And, take Rosie O’Donnell with you.” Celebrities are good for raising cash and scoring free airtime, but let’s not embrace borderline traitors who are trying to jump-start or resurrect their careers by jumping on the political bandwagon.

Forget class warfare and stop demonizing corporate America. Most people are smart enough to realize that the overwhelming majority of successful businesses and individuals are not Enrons and Kenneth Lays. Most are honest and ethical with genuine concern for their communities and their country. Enlist their support for our priorities and we can build valuable alliances.

Embrace God and country. Many principled and devoted people of faith share our Democratic values. Many members of our party are decorated veterans. It is disrespectful to them to mock religion or disparage our nation and military. If we want to live up to our own rhetoric about diversity, then certainly there is room for the faithful and for the patriotic in our party. Let’s open the door and invite them in.

Get back to basics. People are individuals first and members of groups second. This party grew to greatness by recognizing ideology does not create jobs, provide health care or educate children. Our platform ought to focus on the real needs of real people, not on doing favors for special interests. For every proposal, we should ask, “How will this help average people and their families?”

Remember Tip O’Neill’s claim that “All politics is local.” The reason that phrase is cliché now is because it remains true and relevant. I hope we can save the rainforests and bring about lasting peace in the Middle East. But we have an obligation first to save Bayou Texar and prevent violence in our schools here in Northwest Florida. Those are the issues that impact people first and most. Oh, and let’s forget about currying favor with our “friends” in Europe. Last time I checked, not too many of them vote in our elections. Besides, they get very friendly when they need something.

Does all this mean that the Democrats must become clones of the Republicans? Absolutely not. We still have many honest and serious differences over the critical issues that face us as Americans. There will be many more such issues to come in the future.

The problem is that if Democrats don’t make significant changes soon, there’s only going to be one party around to debate them.

That’s would be a sad end for a proud party, but it also would be a tragedy for our country.

–Jim McClellan

Jim McClellan is a Pensacola political and media consultant. He has worked on numerous political campaigns and formerly served as chief speechwriter to Gov. Lawton Chiles and as communications director for the Florida Deptartment of Commerce.

The Buzz 11/11/04

By Rick Outzen

Speaking of Gaetz, the Okaloosa County Superintendent of Schools may also seek higher office in either 2006 or 2008. There are rumors Gaetz might make a run for the state Legislature or U.S. Congress–not against Chumlucka’s favorite son, Jeff Miller, but for the seat currently held by Allen Boyd.

LAST MAN STANDING U.S. Senator Bill Nelson is the only Democrat holding a statewide office. Republicans, bolstered by their Nov. 2 victories across the South, are already seeing Nelson’s seat as one they could put in GOP control in 2006.

The most logical Republican challenger is Gov. Jeb Bush, who can’t run for re-election thanks to constitutionally mandated term limits. Although Dubya’s younger brother insists he’s not interested, such a move would keep him on the national political scene and within reach of a presidential run in 2008.

If Jeb is serious about retiring from the limelight as he says, then U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris, the state’s former elections chief who shepherded the president’s 2000 Florida win, appears the next most prominent challenger. Other Republicans are watching the race as well, including three considered favorites for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in 2006: Attorney General Charlie Crist, Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher, and Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings.

But that’s not all. Other potential Nelson challengers include U.S. Reps. Mark Foley of West Palm Beach, Cliff Stearns of Ocala, Dave Weldon of Melbourne and Connie Mack, the former senator’s son.

Don’t count Nelson out just yet. The historic trend of the president’s party suffering in the middle of a president’s second-term still looms out there. Plus, the GOP’s weak prescription-drug plan, the mounting federal deficit and the war on terrorism could help build opposition to the current Republican majority on Capitol Hill.

ELEPHANT STAMPEDE Republicans took three more Florida House seats away from the Democrats to expand their total to 84, leaving Democrats with just 36 seats in the 120-member chamber. Not since the Democrats controlled the House in 1972, have the numbers been so lopsided.

Thanks to a huge Republican turnout Nov. 2, the GOP captured two seats in northeast Florida, where incumbent Democrats were forced out by term limits. Republicans also won a third seat in Broward, where a Democrat moved to the Senate.

House Republicans who won previously Democratic seats in northeast Florida are Bill Proctor of St. Augustine, a career educator and former president of Flagler College, and Dorothy Hukill, a Port Orange attorney. The third Republican in a Democrat-held seat is Susan Goldstein, a child advocate from Broward County.

On Nov. 16, state Rep. Allan Bense, R-Panama City, gets sworn in as the new Speaker of the House. Bense is the first speaker from Bay County in Florida’s history and the first from the Panhandle since Santa Rosa County’s Bo Johnson in 1993-94.

Over the summer, Bense has quietly begun reorganizing the House. He has restructured the House hierarchy by reviving super-committees, known as councils, which set broad policy direction. That is one way for Bense to distribute power to more GOP members.

Bense also plans to eliminate a House rule that requires a bill to be in its final form 48 hours before final passage. The rule, enacted under outgoing House Speaker Johnnie Byrd, was intended to stop last-minute surprises. Instead, it prevented controversial provisions from being taken out of bills.

We will get our chance to see how effective this revamping is when the Florida Legislature holds a special session Dec. 13 to discuss hurricane recovery and a voter-approved pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds.

Loaded Gun 11/4/04

By Sam Baltrusis

BOOB TUBE One of LOADED GUN’s fave boob-tube reality shows is that two-time Emmy Award-winning series THE AMAZING RACE. With a salacious 6th installment set to air on CBS starting Tuesday, Nov. 16 in a two-part season opener, the anticipated worldwide dash boasts a local married couple ready to smack down the competition on national TV. In a few short weeks, pro-wrestling phenoms LORI HARVEY and BOLO DARTAINIAN from MOLINO unleash their colorful personalities–and her prized puppies–on an unsuspecting America.

Bolo is a professional wrestler. Lori is a barrel horse racer. After watching her husband’s rock ’em, sock ’em antics over their eight-year marriage, Lori–who Bolo describes as a cross between JENNIFER ANISTON and pro-wrestler CHYNA –decided to jump into the ring and stomp some sense into the competition. Friends of the tag-team duo spill to LOADED GUN that Bolo would yell to his hell-raising wife “Don’t pop the puppies, don’t pop the puppies,” when she would claw her way onto the mat. Seems that women in the pro-wrestling circuit–who’ve had some work done on the upper-torso region–have to protect their silicon-enhanced rack from popping. It would be a bad, bad day if Pensacola’s gorgeous lady of wrestling sprung a leak.

Now that the local husband-wife team is circling the, um, globe on “AMAZING RACE 6,” Lori has set her iron gaze on the pro rodeo circuit and will continue to raise the couple’s eight little doggies–the four-legged kind, not her tatas–they consider to be like their ‘lil kids. Meanwhile, CBS brass has delayed the season premiere, originally slated for September, to capitalize on the success of the CHIP & KIM winning “AMAZING RACE 5” and the prime-time rat race’s second consecutive EMMY win. Hopefully, Lori didn’t pop her puppies on national TV.

‘IDOL’ 101 Yes, we know that former MOTLEY CRUE drummer TOMMY LEE has recently turned OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY into the school of rock for his upcoming reality show, but who would have thunk that SIMON COWELL and PAULA ABDUL would be studied in an academic setting? Starting in January, the UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA at Charlotte–alma matter of that Carolina choir-boy CLAY AIKEN who graduated with a special-education degree in 2003–will offer a musicology class called “Examining ‘American Idol’ Through Music Critique.” The syllabus consists of watching “AMERICAN IDOL” twice a week, critiquing the performance and deciding what factors are important in music and music performance. Classroom participants will pick who should continue on the unscripted reality saga, who should be voted off and who was axed and should not have been. And, there’s always the WILLIAM HUNG factor. The ‘Idol’ worshippers will also consider how issues like appearance, charisma and talent ultimately count.

Who really cares about the music, right? Now, before academic wannabes runoff and compile a laundry list of Cowell’s bitchy comments, there’s other pop-inspired courses currently in syndication at universities across the country. While GEORGETOWN continues to boldly go where many men have gone before with its oh-so-popular “STAR TREK AND RELIGION” tease, NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY offers a marketing class for a second year based on DONALD TRUMP’s “THE APPRENTICE.” Hopefully, for the select-elect college crew taking the one-credit program, the dreaded “you’re fired!” won’t become “you’ve failed!”

DRUNK TANK Here’s the perfect read when you’re sitting in the back of a police car after a night of partying, handcuffed, while authorities continue to berate you as if you’re nonhuman: MODERN DRUNKARD magazine. Founded in Denver in 1996, this humor pub for “the oppressed majority” continues to serve its oddball humor on the rocks. Regular features advise readers how to detect whether or not they’re a bonafide alcoholic. “You know you’re a drunkard when your liver is in the federal Witness Protection Program.” Also, if you’re cut off at Communion or you regularly mistake a bottle of schnapps for Beethoven’s Fifth. Sound familiar? You just might be a modern drunkard. Tsk, tsk.

For more booze news, check out http://www.moderndrunkardmagazine.com.