Incumbent state Rep. Joseph Markosek fought back two challengers in the May primary to win the Democratic nomination for the 25th Legislative District.

If he wins re-election Nov. 7 in his race against Republican Ed Nicholson, who ran unopposed in the spring, he will serve his 13th term in Harrisburg.

Mr. Nicholson, who turns 48 tomorrow, would rather not see that happen.

The Monroeville man and upstate New York native sees Allegheny County's population decline as "a mass exodus" and feels the state Legislature can help stem the tide.

He'd start with education issues. Mr. Nicholson holds a bachelor of arts in history from Mansfield State University and an associate degree from Community College of Allegheny County in liberal science and arts studies.

He graduated from Haverling High School in New York and teaches at Greater Works Outreach and Grace Nontraditional Academy in Monroeville and a class at CCAC Boyce.

Mr. Nicholson said taxes are high, yet academic performance in Pennsylvania lags behind other big states. He'd work to assure high standards are put in place and funded.

A promised revenue source, slot machines, is costing the state money instead of generating it, he said. He said he didn't think legalized gambling was a good idea in the first place and that it would result in more social ills than benefits.

Then there was the pay raise the Legislature voted itself and later rescinded.

"I wouldn't have voted for a pay raise in the middle of the night," he said, especially one that gave many lawmakers a salary two times the average income of the people in their districts.

"We're way out of control here in Pennsylvania," he said.

Other than his first run for state legislator in 2004, Mr. Nicholson has not run for public office before.

Mr. Markosek, 56, voted for the pay raise but later voted to rescind it and returned the money.

He said his record, which has included bringing back thousands of dollars in state funds for projects in the district, speaks for itself.

"I think I've established myself as a person [upon whom] people can depend," he said.

Mr. Markosek, of Monroeville, sees transportation as one of the biggest issues in his district.

Not that many years ago, Monroeville was the center of commerce for the eastern suburbs and beyond, he said. The Parkway East and the Pennsylvania Turnpike contributed to that.

Then other areas experienced growth. He mentioned the North Hills, The Waterfront development in Homestead and Pittsburgh Mills in Frazer, as well as the Pittsburgh International Airport corridor.

Suddenly, this area can no longer rest on its laurels, he said. It must compete.

The major way to do that is through transportation, he said. Two big projects, the $60 million, ongoing Route 22 rebuilding project and the promised Route 286 widening project, are vital to keep a competitive edge, he said.

He said the latter project was in the final design stage.

Mr. Markosek, who graduated from Chartiers Valley High School and holds a bachelor of arts degree in history from Notre Dame University, said his experience in Harrisburg helped to get big, regional projects funded and tax money returned to the area.

He cited a recent example, a $7.2 million allocation to Pitcairn for a flood-control program. That is in the design phase right now, he said.

Mr. Markosek is chairman of the House Commerce Committee and secretary of the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. His pet projects outside of Harrisburg include programs for autism support and research, and community libraries.

The Plum community library is named after him as a result of funding he helped secure for the project.

The district includes Monroeville, Trafford, Pitcairn, Wall and parts of Murrysville, Plum and North Versailles.