Two new State College Borough Council members may prompt the council to act on key issues plaguing the borough.

Thomas Daubert and Felicia Lewis, along with incumbents R. Thomas Berner and Jean McManis, edged four other candidates in Tuesday's election.

The race was big on issues, said Undergraduate Student Government Senate President Joe Atkinson, but few innovative solutions were offered.

If the new council puts some of the ideas into action, progress can be made, he said. Parking, in particular, must be addressed.

Fair housing, neighborhood preservation and parking are among the pressing issues the new council will likely tackle. And McManis said the group is ready.

"Fair housing is going to get a fair shake," she said. "We're positioned very well."

It is time to implement the affordable housing ideas tossed around during the campaign, McManis added.

The campaign, which sparked several candidate forums and heightened voter interest, was a good one, said State College Borough Mayor Arnold Addison.

"I thought the candidates did a good a job as I've seen," Addison said. "Local people got down to talking about issues even from the beginning."

McManis, who captured the most votes, said she was anxious to analyze the turnout at each precinct.

However, she didn't share Addison's optimistic view of the race.

"It has not been a calm campaign," she said, noting that some candidates targeted certain groups rather following a team approach.

"Without the right team, you can't do anything," she said.

The election results also showed some surprises, Addison said.

Daubert's victory over incumbent F. Dan Winand was not as predictable as the other victories, he said.

Winand, who stressed his financial expertise as crucial to the borough's ecomonic future, finished fifth.

But Addison said economic experience is not lost.

"We're always dependent on the staff," he said. "That's where the expertise is."

But Borough Council President Ruth Lavin disagreed, saying Winand is a key member of the council.

"I don't see anyone on council that has the background Dan has," she said.

Winand's loss was surprising, Atkinson said, noting that his financial background was necessary to deal with the borough's dwindling tax base.

Despite University seniors Nichol Barlett's and Jim Van Horn's loss, Addison said the council will not overlook student perspectives.

"You don't have to be a student to represent students," he said.

Lavin agreed, saying, "I feel I represent the whole community."

Since two new members will join the council, changes are inevitable, she said. The council will deal with the issues effectively, she added.

Joining Lavin and council members William Welch and Jerry Wettstone, the winners will begin their four-year terms in January.

Council member Peter Lang did not seek re-election.