W-b, Firefighters See Victories In Contract 
For The First Time Since 1980, An Agreement Is 
Reached Without Binding Arbitration

Admitted Stalker Begins Monitored House Arrest

By MIKE RUBINKAM; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Friday, August 16, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE -- Luzerne County voting guru Mary Ellen Sacco stepped up to
the machine, considered her choice for president, and voted for ... Martha
Washington? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Yep. Martha, hubby George, Abe Lincoln and others have entered the
electronic age. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They appeared on a sample ballot Thursday during a training session for
county workers. The workers were learning to use the AVC Advantage, the
electronic voting machine Luzerne County officials hope will replace the
mechanical models that have been used for 60 years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 During the next three months, more than 30 county employees, Luzerne County
Voting Methods Committee members and League of Women Voters volunteers will
demonstrate the machines at fairs, festivals and other public events that draw
large crowds. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It seems pretty simple. I don't anticipate any problems with them," said
Chet Kurkowski, deputy director of the Luzerne County Voter Services
Department. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The acquisition of the compact, plastic machines, which would cost between
$2 million and $2.5 million, must be approved by voters in a November
referendum. Before then, the county will make sure the AVC Advantage gets
ample exposure. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In three two-hour training sessions Thursday, Vicki Duba of Sequoia Pacific
Voting Equipment Inc., the New York manufacturer of the AVC Advantage, ran
through the basics of setting up, taking down and voting on the machines. She
also gave the would-be demonstrators instruction manuals which included
commonly asked questions and answers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Then they got to practice. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And for the record, Sacco, director of the Luzerne County Voter Services
Department, voted a split ticket: Martha Washington for president, George
Washington and John Hancock for Continental Congress, and Betsy Ross for tax
collector. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 TIMES LEADER/RICHARD SABATURA &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Vicki Duba of Sequoia Voting Equipment Inc. demonstrates the AVC Advantage
electronic voting machine to county workers on Thursday in Wilkes-Barre. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

County Opens High-tech Vote Lessons 
The Question Of Whether Luzerne 
County Should Purchase New Voting 
Machines Will Be On November's 
Election Ballot

County Opens High-tech Vote Lessons The Question Of Whether Luzerne County Should Purchase New Voting Machines Will Be On November's Election Ballot