The choice for voters in the 44th Legislative District is between two candidates from Moon, one an experienced Republican and the other an earnest Democrat.

The Republican, Rep. Mark Mustio, 49, said he'd like a second full term so he can finish what he started after his special election in 2003. That includes economic development in the airport area and relieving Pittsburgh's financial distress.

The Democrat is Ray Uhric, 62, a retired airline mechanic, who said he's running because the candidate who intended to challenge the incumbent dropped out. Mr. Uhric was a shop steward in his union and was elected to the Allegheny County Democratic Committee last spring, but has never run for public office before.

The Navy veteran said he'd reduce the size of the Legislature but didn't know by how much. He said he'd dedicate money to pay for mass transit but didn't understand why there wasn't enough money in the budget to pay for it. To reduce or eliminate real estate taxes, he said he'd offer voters a selection of other taxes and let them vote on a mix.

Both he and Mr. Mustio would outlaw abortion if given the opportunity, with some exceptions, such as to save the life of the woman. Both would outlaw cigarette smoking at indoor workplaces statewide, but Mr. Uhric would exempt casinos.

Mr. Mustio showed a clearer, deeper understanding than his opponent of both state politics and issues in the district that includes Moon, North Fayette, Findlay, Ohio, Kilbuck, Ben Avon Heights, Sewickley, Sewickley Heights, Sewickley Hills, Aleppo, Osborne, Edgeworth, Haysville and parts of Robinson and Collier.

He left a successful family insurance business to serve, and expressed willingness to return, saying, "I don't vote to get re-elected. I vote to get things done." The Republican also held a fund-raiser in May for County Chief Executive Dan Onorato, a Democrat -- not usually the way it's done.

Mr. Mustio does not use a state car, does not seek reimbursement for mileage and says he was duped into voting for the pay raise. He thought he'd get the money as an expense check that he could use to hire a staff member, and when it arrived instead in his paycheck, he returned it.

He would dedicate funding for mass transit but also seek performance audits of transit authorities. He'd reduce real estate taxes by expanding the sales tax to include food and clothing and by cutting costs through a merger of school health insurance with the state plan.

For his breadth of knowledge and his willingness to lose his job for standing on principle, Republican Mark Mustio gets the Post-Gazette's endorsement.