`wow!' Gets Wet And Wild Sunday 
``wow!'' Will Explore Whitewater Rafting On The Lehigh River With Pocono 
Whitewater Adventures This Week.

Ann Norton 
September 29, 1996 
Ann L. (norkunas) Norton, 78, Of Brooklyn, N.y., Formerly Of Wilkes-barre, 
Died Sunday At The Stratford Nursing Home, Stratford, N.j.

By MIKE RUBINKAM; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Friday, October 04, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE -- Get ready to add city clerk/administrator Bill Brace's name
to the list of candidates vying for county controller. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Right now we're looking at that possibility ... an announcement will be
forthcoming in the next week or so," Brace said Thursday. "Am I interested?
Absolutely. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I'm pretty well set on it." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Brace would join a Democratic field that includes three hopefuls. The only
Republican in the running is incumbent controller Raymond Sobota, a Forty Fort
attorney appointed by Gov. Tom Ridge to fill the unexpired term of the late
Joseph Tirpak. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Tirpak, a Democrat who controlled the seat for 22 years, died last March. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Joe Tirpak and I knew each other for years," Brace said, "and when
(Sobota) was appointed you start thinking about these things." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Brace, 51, has spent nearly all of his professional career with the City of
Wilkes-Barre. Hired in 1970 as a license clerk, he was promoted to city clerk
two years later. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He held that position for almost 24 years. In January, Mayor Thomas
McGroarty tacked "administrator" onto his title. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In his current position, Brace does a little bit of everything. He drafts
legislation for City Council, keeps records, helps prepare the city budget. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I've even helped sweep up a little," he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In addition to his political activities, Brace founded the Wilkes-Barre
Killer Bees Athletic Association about 25 years ago. The popular softball
league holds an annual banquet to honor top female and male amateur athletes
in all sports. He also served as Exalted Ruler of the local Elks 109, where he
is still an active member. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 His boss thinks Brace would make a formidable candidate. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I think he's going to win," said McGroarty. "I'm going to work hard for
him. I think you need more professionals in there." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Plains Township Commissioner Frank Pizzella, Wyoming Area School Board
member Anthony "Jake" Sobeski and former Wilkes-Barre Mayor Lee Namey also
have floated their names as potential candidates in the Democratic nomination.
Former Wyoming Valley West School Board member Jim Burns, who had considered
running, said he now plans to run for prothonotary. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sobota thinks the race for the Democratic nomination will be tough. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "They start out with a tremendous edge in party registration for the
general election, but in the primary they'll all have to work on their own to
be nominated," he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Brace lives in South Wilkes-Barre with his wife, Laura. They have four
children and a granddaughter. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The county controller serves a four-year term and makes more than $33,000
per year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

W-b Official Mulls Run For County Controller Clerk/administrator Bill Brace Says He'll Announce His Intentions Soon