On March 1, Ms. Dent will address the conferees on the successful implementation of Sarasota Counties new voting system.

Under the direction and leadership of Ms. Dent, Sarasota County implemented Election Systems and Software's iVotronic, a touch screen system. Beverly Kaufman, County Clerk from Houston Texas is Chair of NACRC Legislative Conference. She said that Sarasota County had experienced successful implementation of its new electronic voting system and invited Ms. Dent to discuss her efforts. Ms. Dent commented, "This was a big win for the voters of Sarasota County in the September and November elections of 2002. The Staff of the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections office are such a cohesive team. They worked together with pollworkers and voters to get the job done right."

Kathy Dent has also accepted an invitation to address the Elections Administrators of the State of Virginia at The Homestead. She has been asked to advise the election officials on the steps necessary in ensuring a successful implementation of a new voting system. With the newly passed "Help America Vote Act", all fifty states will be looking at implementing new systems no later than 2006.

In addition to these presentations, Larry Rose, the Information Technology Manager for Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections office, has been asked to go to San Antonio, Texas in late January to assist in their first election utilizing the identical voting system that proved so successful in Sarasota County.

Election officials from Boise, Idaho and perhaps Salt Lake City, Utah will be observing our City of Sarasota municipal elections this March.