Incumbent candidates dominated yesterday's borough election, retaining mayoral and State College Borough Council seats.
Democrat Bill Welch hung on to his mayoral seat atop the borough council, amassing 1,780 votes, beating Republican Jeffrey Kern, who collected 1,413 votes.
Welch's said his narrow victory shows the power each vote carries in local elections.
"I rely on the wisdom of the voters — whatever they decide is fine with me," Welch said, adding that he would like to see more students involved in the next election.
Kern said he was naturally disappointed in losing the race but was pleased with the support he received from his voters and those who helped in his campaign. Kern said he plans to remain involved.
"I'm going to be very busy in the borough government," he said.
Student Party candidate Justin Leto said he knew his chances of winning were bleak throughout the election but said this election was the first step in ensuring the party's name is on future ballots.
"We're a new party, you can't have unrealistic expectations. After the election, we're going to evaluate what we did wrong and what we did right," Leto said. "We're looking to the future. I'd like to see something happen in 2003."
Leto captured 5.5 percent of the vote.
