As a former borough council member and president and a current University research associate, Joseph Wakeley believes he has the diverse experience necessary to represent borough residents as mayor.

The mayor should communicate and create "dialogue, not monologue" between borough officials, permanent residents and students, Wakeley said. He thinks his past endeavors on the council, at the University and as co-founder of the State College YMCA have given him a "knowledge quotient" of concerns and needs of different borough members. Wakeley also sat on the YMCA's board of directors as president.

Wakeley's work with students on math and computer science research projects has convinced him that students have a lot to offer the borough.

"Students always had a good, fresh approach," Wakeley said, adding they could bring the same to local government. He said he would meet with student leaders as mayor to keep communication open with the borough.

"It's like one big home. We all have to live together," Wakeley said.

Borough property owners are concerned property values are deteriorating because of overcrowded parking in their neighborhoods, Wakeley said. The borough occupancy limit helps control the number of cars near a property because it limits the number of people living in residential housing, he said.

But Wakeley said he is aware students and other low-income residents desire affordable living arrangements, which the borough occupancy limit may in some situations prevent, he said. As mayor, Wakeley said he would keep the issue of building affordable housing on the council's agenda.

Although students are not included in the fair housing ordinance, Wakeley thinks most rental housing owners will rent to students who respect property. If a perception exists that students are not good renters, Wakeley said as mayor he will work to dispel it. If he finds problems are occurring with students as renters, he will work with the students, he said.

A rent withholding ordinance seems like a helpful idea, Wakeley said, but it would have to be looked at closely by the borough.

Wakeley said he is interested in consolidation if it will improve the way the borough governs itself. Consolidation could reduce taxes, Wakeley said, but unique interests in the borough may not be heard in a large government body.

"I think we have to understand the pros and cons of consolidation," Wakeley said.

Republican borough council member Tom Daubert said he really doesn't know enough about Wakeley or his political views to decide whether he would make a good mayor.

"I've only met him once," Daubert said. "I don't really know much about his borough politics."

Collegian Staff Writer Rebecca Stumpf contributed to this report.