Two State College Democrats filed petitions for positions on the State College Borough Council yesterday, bringing the candidate total up to three Republicans and three Democrats.

Calling potential local government merger proposals sensible, a former executive editor of the Centre Daily Times filed his petition yesterday for a seat on the State College Borough Council.

William Welch, who has lived in State College for his entire life, feels the topic of merging warrants immediate attention.

"The question of consolidation deserves a real serious study," Welch said, adding that council should determine if merging is financially feasible and politically achievable.

"Consolidation makes sense," he said.

Margaret Abrashoff, who works at the Central Intermediate Unit in West Decatur, also filed for a borough council candidacy yesterday.

Abrashoff, 32, is currently completing the second half of a year-long sabbatical, adding that she is finishing her master's degree in special education. She graduated from Penn State in 1978 with a bachelors' degree in Health and Physical Education.

She said she had been thinking about running for council for "quite awhile."

The candidate said she is especially interested in the ambience report compiled by the ambience committee.

"I think council should abide by the report; we owe it to the people,"she said.

Welch said he decided to seek a seat because he felt it was "unfortunate" no Democrats had filed with the elections office in Bellefonte.

Welch announced his decision to run for a seat on the council earlier this week. A Democrat, Welch said he made his decision over the weekend, but admitted he has been thinking about running for a council seat for years. "Friends from both parties urged me to run,"he said.

Welch calls neighborhood preservation one of his key concerns. He said keeping the neighborhoods safe and stable should be a priority. Traffic, parking and property development should also be given more attention, he said.

Welch said he is equally interested in the health of downtown State College.

"We need to maintain the characteristics and strength of the economic diversity of our town," he said.

Welch, who graduated from State College Area High School in 1959, received his bachelor's degree in English from the University in 1964. He worked for the CDT for 20 years, starting as a reporter and working his way up to the position of Executive Editor.

Welch left the CDT in 1985 when he was the general manager of the newspaper. He then became the editor for the American Philatelic Society, a stamp collecting organization that publishes a monthly journal for its 58,000 members worldwide.

Welch said he has just completed serving a year as the president of the College Heights neighborhood association and is a public information officer for the Centre County Emergency Operation Staff.

At the University, he serves as a member of the board of directors of the Liberal Arts Alumni Society, in addition to being a member of the Alumni Publication Advisory Committee.

R. Thomas Berner, a borough council member and a University professor, said he worked with Welch in the early 1970's at the CDT.

"As a lifetime resident of State College, Bill is eminently qualified to serve on council," Berner said. He added that Welch's experience as a journalist in the area gives him experience with both the short- and long-term issues concerning the town.

"He's a smart person," Berner added.

Welch said that his next steps include determining whether or not he will have a campaign committee. He added he will also try to contact Ronald Marlow, a former Undergraduate Student Government Senate president who is also running for a seat. Marlow is a Democrat.

Abrashoff listed resources such as people, energy, and land as additional key concerns. She also said she wants to see "good internal government relations."

"I could add a new breed of spirit and enthusiasm to council," Abrashoff added.

Ted Vallance, the chairman of the State College Borough Democratic Committee said he worked with Abrashoff when she was manager of the local Michael Dukakis campaign last fall.

"I think she'll be a fine candidate and if elected, a fine councilwoman," Vallance said. "She takes her issues seriously."

Abrashoff is the president of the Centre County Association for Retarded Citizens and is a member of the state's Association for Retarded Citizen's executive committee.

She is also the 1989 State Summer Special Olympic Games Director which will be held at Penn State this June.

Abrashoff was also a delegate to the Democratic National Convention and worked on behalf of the State Democratic Committee for the Dukakis campaign.

A spokeswoman from the elections office in Bellefonte said the deadline for filing petitions was 5 yesterday evening. Republican incumbents Ruth Lavin and Dan Winand are running for re-election, and Jerry Wettstone is running for his first term after being appointed to council in January.

The primary election is May 16 with the general election to be held Nov. 7.