This is the first in a series of endorsements by the Post-Gazette Editorial Board in contested races this fall. A roundup of the endorsements will appear on Nov. 5.

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is not the only budding young politician in this graying region. In the 42nd Legislative District in the South Hills, the Nov. 7 election race is between a Republican in his 20s and a Democrat in his 30s, both of them with high-minded ideas to reform the politics-as-usual ways of Harrisburg.

In this district, the first blow for change was struck by Mark Harris, who defeated five-term incumbent Rep. Tom Stevenson and another challenger in the Republican primary. He pulled off this upset by surfing voter outrage at the infamous legislative pay raise, which Mr. Stevenson had voted for (although in the end he did not take it).

Mr. Harris, 21, of Mt. Lebanon makes Pittsburgh's young mayor look like an elder statesman. A Web page designer, he got his diploma in political science from George Washington University just after winning the primary. Despite his youth, he has steeped himself in conservative politics, including working for the Americans for Prosperity Foundation in Washington, D.C., and on behalf of GOP candidates.

His objection to the pay raise has not dimmed with its repeal. He promises not to vote for John Perzel, a leader in his own party, as House speaker and supports both a part-time Legislature and term limits.

His Democratic opponent, Matt Smith, 34, of Mt. Lebanon, had no opponent in the primary but is not to be outdone in reformist zeal, calling for both a drastic cut in the size of the Legislature and term limits. He also wants a number of other good- government reforms such as lobbyist disclosure and transparency in legislative business.

The 42nd Legislative District comprises Mt. Lebanon, Green Tree, Rosslyn Farms, Thornburg and parts of Scott and Bethel Park.

Predictably, given voter outrage in the suburbs, both candidates are concerned about property taxes. Mr. Harris sees the issue in terms of education funding and his political inclination is to look for a possible solution in cutting the administrative costs of education and giving individual school districts more revenue choices.

Mr. Smith speaks in more direct terms. While he says there is no magic bullet, he would consider shifting away from property taxes to income and sales taxes. He also hopes that trimming the Legislature could lead to money being redirected to property tax relief.

They part company on two key issues. Mr. Smith believes a stable source of funding must be found for public transit, while Mr. Harris says transit systems must become more accountable first. In the event that the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, Mr. Smith would still want state law to keep abortion "safe, legal and rare," while Mr. Harris would outlaw the procedure.

Both candidates are personable, familiar with the issues and well-spoken. The difference is that one of them, Mark Harris, has a very right-wing view of the world that has not been moderated by real-life experience. Cutting taxes and government spending are fine ideas unless taken to harmful extremes -- and the ideologically pure Mr. Harris would be just the one to do that.

By contrast, Matt Smith has had a career as a lawyer often representing small family businesses and that perceptive brings a moderate, thoughtful understanding to the challenges of government. Matt Smith brings to his candidacy youth and experience, and for that reason the Post-Gazette recommends his election in the 42nd District.