Voters in the 30th Legislative District are fortunate to have two thoughtful candidates whose depth of knowledge shows they have researched important issues.

The incumbent is Democrat Shawn Flaherty, 47, who has served only since May, after winning the special election to fill the vacancy left when Republican Jeff Habay was convicted of directing his office staff to perform political work on state time. Rep. Flaherty, the son of late Pittsburgh Mayor Pete Flaherty, lives in Fox Chapel.

Republican challenger Randy Vulakovich, 56, is a retired Shaler police sergeant who has knocked on 10,500 doors in the district, which includes Hampton, Fox Chapel and parts of O'Hara, Ross and Shaler. He'd have visited more households, but was injured in a car crash earlier this month.

Mr. Vulakovich says the chief gripe he hears while campaigning is that voters don't trust politicians. The officer who retired after 27 years assures them that because he's not seeking a second career, he would not compromise his principles to get re-elected.

Both he and Mr. Flaherty support term limits, a smaller Legislature and dedicating steady funding for mass transit. Neither could say exactly where they'd get the additional money for bus and train service.

The candidates differ on two key issues. If Roe v. Wade were overturned, Mr. Flaherty said he would oppose a statewide ban on abortion, while Mr. Vulakovich said he'd vote to outlaw abortion with no exceptions. Mr. Flaherty said he'd vote to ban smoking at all indoor workplaces statewide, while Mr. Vulakovich said he favors such a ban but that it's more likely to be adopted if there are some exceptions for bars and restaurants.

The two also have different takes on real estate tax reform. Mr. Vulakovich would eliminate property taxes incrementally while increasing other taxes such as the sales and personal income levies. He also proposes a plan of questionable legality under which elderly homeowners would never have to pay more in real estate taxes than they do in the year that the family's primary wage earner retires.

Mr. Flaherty, an attorney whose specialty is real estate law, wants to end the levying of property taxes on homes to fund schools. He would increase and broaden the sales tax and raise the personal income tax to make up the difference.

Mr. Vulakovich is refreshing for his candor and his willingness to listen. But because of the incumbent's greater understanding of real estate law and because his views match the Post-Gazette's on issues where the candidates split -- workplace smoking and abortion rights -- our endorsement goes to Shawn Flaherty.