Registered voters in State College will cast their ballot tomorrow for one of two mayoral candidates -- one with a vision of a more "proactive" government and the other with 16 years of experience in State College.

D. Josh Troxell, 29, said he is taking time off from his studies to run for mayor because he wants to give back to his community through service to the government.

"I really have a strong feeling of giving back to community," Troxell said. "I grew up believing that if you are not working to make government better, you are probably part of the problem."

Mayor Bill Welch, 63, is on the ballot for the fourth time.

"Four more years," he said. "I enjoy it, and by most accounts, I am good at it."

He said the mayor's job doesn't involve setting policy, but gives the State College Borough Council the power to be lawmakers and, therefore, gives more local control.

"It's what the citizens voted for," Welch said.

Welch grew up in State College but was born in Philadelphia. Both of his parents also grew up in Centre County.

Welch graduated from Penn State in 1964 with an English degree. He is a self-proclaimed stamp collector who worked for 21 years at the Centre Daily Times and was the editor of the magazine The American Philatelist.

Before Welch was mayor, he served one term on the State College Borough Council. He said experience is something he thinks every mayoral candidate should have.

"It is like coaching baseball without ever playing the game," Welch said.

Welch was elected mayor in 1993 and took office in 1994. He said issues facing the borough during the next four years are "the usual things," including the health of the neighborhood, downtown prosperity, borough finances and parking and traffic congestion.

As the mayor of State College, Welch said, he is not a policymaker.

"No one reports to me," Welch said. "I am the official head of government and the ceremonial head of government."

Welch said he doesn't know exactly why the mayor is so limited in governing, but he agreed with the way the borough works.

"The mayor doesn't have an agenda," Welch said.

Welch said he tends to use persuasion and communication to work with voting council members.

"I understand the job I'm serving and the opportunities and limitations that it has," Welch said. "I view it as a service opportunity more than anything else ... because there is very little politics."

He said he refers to himself not as a politician but as a public servant.

The mayor holds the power to veto in certain circumstances, and Welch said he could only remember doing that twice during his tenure.

Once, he vetoed a historic district ordinance that detailed how people could make their homes historic "in order to preserve the character of a neighborhood," Welch said.

The second was the construction of a traffic island at North Atherton Street and Ridge Avenue, which he said he vetoed because he believed traffic signs would more inexpensively solve the problem.

Welch said his only platform is that he will do the best job for the community. He said he would continue to use his experience to guide the fundamental issues that the community will be facing.

Troxell, a seven-year Navy veteran, works as a cook at Hotel State College, 100 W. College Ave. He is taking a leave of absence from pursuing a chemical engineering degree from the university.

Troxell said the military taught him to lead from the front, which is why he wants to be mayor.

He said his strong sense of community service stems from his military background.

"This is what I defended," Troxell said. "I want to give back to the town I live in."

He said he plans on doing more to involve the community in issues that borough council votes on.

Troxell also said he wants to do things to improve community input, such as having council's work sessions at times when resident attendance could be higher.

Troxell said he would like to help the borough understand the needs of the people in the borough by going out and getting their message.

"I am looking forward to working with borough council to find solutions to things," Troxell said. "If I go out into community and talk to people, that is feedback I can bring back."

Troxell said he is emphasizing proactive accessibility. He added that he doesn't want to change the premise of the office, just use it to a greater benefit.

"Being accessible is the key to responsible government," Troxell said.

Troxell said he brings different experiences, outside of State College government, that voters cannot find with Welch.

"I think he's a great guy, has done a lot for community ... but being a nice guy doesn't make you a good leader," Troxell said.

Troxell said he has worked in Harrisburg with the state agriculture and education departments and has various other life experiences he has seen work in other communities, which he feels gives him a good perspective on what needs to be done in State College.

"I'm bringing fresh and positive ideas to this election," Troxell said.

Troxell said his experience could not be found in someone who has lived in State College his whole life.

"The best way to predict the future is to create it," Troxell said. "Let's create our future together."