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Ashley added as defendant in federal suit over sex-abuse cop Icker

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Wilkes-Barre seeks Community Survey responses

<p>Luzerne County&#8217;s election board will publicly seek applications from voters of any registration interested in filling a fifth board seat and serving as board chair.</p><p>The board, which oversees elections, will be busier than usual in coming months preparing for the high-turnout April 28 presidential primary, when the county will be using a new paper-trail voting system for the first time and implementing state election reforms that include a new option to vote by mail up to 50 days before an election and an extended voter registration deadline.</p><p>Prior board chairman Lewis W. Wetzel had resigned from the unpaid post in October, and a replacement to serve the next four years must be filled within 60 days, or by Jan. 28, said board Vice Chairman Peter Ouellette.</p><p>Unlike the four other board members, the chairman seat is not chosen by county council. The county&#8217;s home rule charter says the two Democrats and two Republicans appointed by council must select someone of any affiliation to serve as a fifth board member and board chair.</p><p>During Wednesday&#8217;s board meeting, citizen Brian Shiner and county Councilman Walter Griffith urged the board to publicly interview all applicants &#8212; a process council follows before filling its seats.</p><p>Ouellette said the board is still reviewing the process with the board solicitor. He said after the meeting the board must screen applicants to ensure they do not have conflicts under the charter, such as employment with a contractor that does business with the county.</p><p>The vacancy advertisement is expected this week and will be posted at <a href="https://www.luzernecounty.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.luzernecounty.org</a>, he said.</p><p>The board plans to reach a decision on the appointment at its Jan. 22 meeting.</p><p>County Election Director Shelby Watchilla told the board she expects to start receiving new paper-trail voting machines in several weeks. The administration has promised an extensive public education campaign.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re looking forward to everyone having an opportunity to try those new machines when they do come in,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Council had voted to accept county Manager C. David Pedri&#8217;s recommendation to purchase the machines from Dominion Voting Systems Inc.</p><p>With the change, voters will make selections on computerized ballot-marking devices similar to the way they do now. But instead of touching a screen box to cast the ballot, voters would receive a paper printout to verify their selections before it is fed into a tabulator to be read and saved in compliance with a state mandate.</p><p>Ouellette and board member Anne Davies inquired about plans for public and poll worker training on the new system.</p><p>Watchilla said Dominion&#8217;s contract requires training, and the administration is working with the company on a schedule and plan.</p><p>In other business, Griffith asked who is serving as board clerk to prepare meeting agendas and ensure board policies are implemented. Council&#8217;s administrative code says the county administrative services division head or his/her designee must fill the role.</p><p>Watchilla said Administrative Services Division Head David Parsnik has designated the election bureau deputy director as clerk. Griffith said he believes the election director, not the deputy, should be the clerk.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Luzerne County Courthouse </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/web1_TTL101719Luzerne-County-Courthouse1-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Luzerne County Courthouse </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jennifer Learn-Andes</p><p>jandes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Luzerne County Election Board seeking citizen to fill vacancy