Election Day could bring many new faces and new points of view to the local political arena.

Four of seven seats on State College Borough Council are open and will be decided Nov. 7. Only two incumbents are seeking re-election. Two other council members, whose terms have not yet expired, could also leave council if elected to county positions.

A non-incumbent has not been elected to council since Cathy Dauler in 1999. As few as two or as many as six new people could sit on council next year. Only James Meyer is assured to stay.

Because Council President Richard McCarl, a Republican who has served two terms, and council member Jean McManis, a Democrat who has served four terms, are not seeking re-election, there will be at least two new members on council in January.

Dauler, a Democrat seeking a second term, and council member Tom Daubert, a Republican seeking a fourth term, are two of nine candidates in the race.

"Come January, council could have a very different point of view as far as how to run things," Dauler said. "I think it could be hard at first for council to get much done because everyone would have so much learning to do."

Daubert also said the transition could be difficult at first.

"A new borough manager is still going to be learning the job as well, so it could be rough for a couple of months," he said.

Meanwhile, Democratic council members Elizabeth Goreham and Janet Knauer, both of whom have two years left on their current terms, are in countywide races.

Goreham is running for county commissioner, and Knauer is seeking the position of recorder of deeds.

If elected, Goreham would be required to vacate her council seat. Whether Knauer could retain her seat if she would become recorder of deeds remains unclear.

"I do think it would be pretty unusual for someone to hold two elective offices like that at the same time," borough solicitor Terry Williams said.

If Knauer wins, Williams said he would have to do some research to determine whether she could remain on council. Knauer could not be reached for comment.

When a council member resigns before the end of his or her term, council has 30 days to accept applications, review them and appoint a successor to finish the term, Williams said.

An outgoing council member would not be involved in the replacement process. But in the past, council has attempted to replace a departing member with a person of the same party or ideology, Goreham said.

Should council not agree on a replacement within that time frame, a citizen would be appointed to assist them in the process for an additional 15 days, Williams said. If after 45 days, a successor has still not been named, the Centre County Court of Common Pleas would appoint someone to fill out the term, he said.