State College Borough Councilman Jerry Wettstone, who was appointed last month to fill the vacancy left after John Dombroski's death, on Friday became the third council member to announce plans to seek re-election.

"I do not come to the candidacy with any preconceived notions on the issues," Wettstone, a State College native, said at a news conference in council chambers.

According to Wettstone, the challenges facing the State College Borough Council include addressing the ambience report and the community issues it raises, solving downtown parking problems, and maintaining an adequate water supply.

Wettstone, when asked why State College voters should elect him to the seat, said that he would bring a "caring feeling" about the community to the council.

He also mentioned that he had assessed other local governments and their problems during his term as Director of the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation in Pennslyvania's Department of Community Affairs from 1968 to 1983.

From this experience, he said he learned where improvements in communities were needed and could be made.

After moving to the borough from his position in Harrisburg, Wettstone served for four years on the Centre Region's Parks and Recreation Board, two years as chairman.

Robert Ayer, Centre Region Parks and Recreation director, said Wettstone worked hard and showed a "fundamental concern" for conservation of the region's land and parks.

"I think Jerry has a lot of ability and its good that he's going on from our board to council," he said. "I think he will contribute."

Among Wettstone's accomplishments on the board was the construction of a water slide at the Welsh pool in State College, Ayer said.

The debate concerning the Hillel property located at 224 Locust Lane will be one problem that Wettstone may face in the upcoming months, if he is re-elected to his seat.

Penn Hill, the project developer, wants to build a six-story office-apartment building that opponents from the surrounding neighborhood believe would create noise, traffic and vandalism problems.

Wettstone said Friday that he was considering both sides' arguments and had not yet decided which one he supported.

Fellow Republican councilwoman Ruth Lavin also attended the news conference. She, along with councilman Dan Winand, announced her candidacy in the November elections at a news conference last Thursday.