Although their candidate failed to achieve office, local Ross Perot supporters are not abandoning the message behind his campaign.

A local chapter of the national organization United We Stand, America, began formation in early January to advocate the issues stressed by the Texas billionaire during the recent presidential election.

United We Stand, America will be partially funded by Perot, with the remaining expenses paid by a $15 membership fee, said John Borders, the group's current chairman and former chairman of Centre County Pennsylvanians for Perot.

"The organization will be trying to keep track of miscellaneous economic concerns," Borders said.

During the election, Pennsylvania law allowed the formation of a third party by Perot benefactors; the group was called the Patriot Party.

"There will be less emphasis placed on the Patriot Party and more into United We Stand, America," Borders said.

The organization plans to work for issues including the line-item veto, deficit reduction, a balanced budget, health-care reform, education reform and a fair free trade agreement, Borders said. A state-level meeting will be held this weekend to organize members and to discuss news from the national organization.

Reggie Wright (senior-operations management), who supported Perot, plans to join United We Stand, America.

"I think most Perot supporters are waiting to see how (President) Clinton does before they throw him their support," Wright said.

Roger Herman, a former member of Centre County Pennsylvanians for Perot, sent in his membership fee, but said he is pessimistic about the movement.

"We sent in our money, but unless you're becoming a political party, it's a silly exercise," Herman said. "We need to start putting our own candidates up, instead of someone running on their own money."

And he said something must be done to bring change to government and politics.

"The general message is that we're tired of a semi-criminal Congress and an administration that's, at best, gridlocked," Herman said. "The biggest question is: 'Can we make a national framework in which there is a true land of the free, and stable economy that employs people in something besides the third shift of a Dairy Queen?' "

Although Herman supports Clinton's handling of social issues, he said he has a bleak outlook on the nation's economic situation under the new president.

"I'll get my Social Security check . . . it's the next generation that won't," Herman said.