Thursday, April 11, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
FLORIDA death-row inmate Manuel Pardo might not be the greatest catch in the world, but consider his good points.
He doesn't drink. He doesn't stay out late. And he has a stable routine.
Perhaps that's what induced 26 women to send Pardo money since January 1995, when he took out a personal ad in a newspaper.
Pardo, 39, a former Sweetwater police officer awaiting execution for nine slayings, advertised: "Ex-cop, Vietnam vet. Took law into own hands and ended up on death row. He needs letters from sensitive, understanding female, for real honest relationship."
But Pardo was less than honest about his intentions.
Two of the women, house-cleaner Barbara Ford, 46, of Ohio and Wal-Mart clerk Betty Ihem, 54, of Oklahoma found out about each other when Pardo wrote to one and mistakenly addressed the letter to the other.
"I could kick myself," Ihem said.
Rather than do that, a Las Vegas therapist who once published a local singles newspaper has a better suggestion.
"When a person is seeking a relationship, it's important to focus on what you really want," said Paul Wulkan of Palo Verde Child & Family Services. "We tend to spend more time focusing on what type of shoes we want than what type of relationship."
Wulkan, who published Singles' Lifestyles in the late 1980s, said he believes in the power of the personals.
"When you go out to a public place to meet another person, it's like two amoeba in a petri dish," Wulkan said. "You don't know anything about the person you've met."
But through the personals one can at least attempt to screen out negative qualities before the initial meeting, which should be conducted at a public place such as a restaurant.
Incidentally, Wulkan, who last year married psychologist Laura Birholtz (they met through work), arrived in Las Vegas 15 years ago and immediately took out a personal ad seeking a date to accompany him to a New Year's party.
"My phone rang off the hook," Wulkan said.
Las Vegas certainly has a well-deserved reputation as a city that is tough on relationships, which translates to a lot of lonely people.
If you are seeking a permanent relationship in Las Vegas, keep in mind that statistics are not in your favor.
Wulkan notes that Nevada has the highest divorce rate in the nation. Contributing factors include gambling, alcohol, the transient nature of the city and low marriage age.
And don't forget another factor: the uncanny ability of the male species to remain uncommunicative at all times.
"Two-thirds to three-quarters of divorces are initiated by women," Wulkan said. "The guys, who stand there flat-footed, think what they've been hearing are complaints. The women say it's communication."
Well, just keep in mind that not all communication is a good thing.
After all, Pardo is a really good communicator.
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