The April 22 Primary contest for a two-year seat representing the 12th District in the state House of Representatives is noteworthy if for no other reason than the fact that there is, indeed, a contest.

For the first time in a decade, two names will appear on Republican ballots in the April 22 election: incumbent Daryl Metcalfe and Robin Redding, both of Cranberry. There is no challenger on the Democrat ballot.

The fact that the Cranberry duo are former friends and political allies adds another facet worthy of note.

Mr. Metcalfe, 45, who was first elected to office in November 1998, said he welcomed the competition. "It's true in the private sector and it's true in the public sector: Competition is always good. It ends up producing better services and products."

Mrs. Redding, 39, a former research chemist who is now a homemaker, agrees.

The pair parts ways on many other issues, especially when it comes to style.

Mr. Metcalfe proudly calls himself a conservative with a willingness to face off against those who oppose him. Mrs. Redding says his in-your-face approach has caused a divisiveness that she wants to mend by being a "team-builder who listens."

Mrs. Redding promises to create councils or panels of community leaders with whom she would meet regularly. The panels would focus on local municipal leaders, businesses and nonprofit groups. "I don't ever want to lose touch with what the people are saying," she said.

She believes that Mr. Metcalfe has had "long enough to make his mark" and that he hasn't accomplished his goals of lower taxes, smaller government and more local control over public education. "Nothing has changed," she said.

She said he has failed to bring home state funding for needed infrastructure improvements as well as for the school districts in the area. "We have a developer [Simon Properties of Indianapolis] willing to put up millions of money for infrastructure improvements in the Route 228 corridor, but the state needs to come to the table, too," she said, referring to attempts by Cranberry to help broker a financing plan for the expansion of Route 228 and flyover ramps.

Mr. Metcalfe acknowledged that he opposes using state tax dollars specifically to support a private-sector development. Furthermore, he said, the Legislature has been forced to deal realistically with limited funds.

"There's been a shifting of priorities [in state transportation dollars] to structural deficiencies. Capacity-building projects have gotten pushed back. This is hard, but we have to make choices," he said, noting that he is in favor of shifting money from mass transit and public welfare projects. "We'd have enough money to do what we needed with our roads if we'd take the money off the welfare system that's benefitting illegal aliens."

Mr. Metcalfe has been vocal in his support of legislation that would penalize businesses for employing illegal immigrants and for tightening restrictions to ensure that no one can receive public benefits until they are in the United States legally.

Mrs. Redding said Mr. Metcalfe's attention has been drawn too far from his own back yard. "The school districts within the 12th District are receiving state subsidies lower than the state per-student average. That's not right," she said.

Mr. Metcalfe agreed the formula for state funding is flawed, but he said he believed that many school officials are big spenders. He favors a local referendum that would require taxpayer approval of all property tax increases.

"I want to see the state subsidy brought up to the appropriate level, but then I want to see local tax go down concurrently, dollar for dollar. They can do a better job with the money they have," he said.

He said teacher strikes should be banned and parents should have the right to choose which school their child attends, be it public or private, and that the state subsidy should follow the student.

Mrs. Redding acknowledged she has supported such a voter referendum for tax increases but said she thinks it's more important for taxing entities to communicate their needs to their constituents so that such a referendum isn't necessary.

She said she supports lower taxes and smaller government but that it's "simple-minded" to not do all that can be done to ensure that state tax dollars are reaching district residents.

"We are entitled to our share of what's been paid into the system. We can work to hold the line on taxes and big government but also tap into the resources that we've help build," she said, referring to another disagreement between Mr. Metcalfe and Cranberry officials.

Cranberry has asked for a $3 million state grant for its third municipal park. Mr. Metcalfe said he can't support using tax dollars for such a development, when so many other communities don't have even a single park within their municipal boundaries.

Mrs. Redding is a Republican precinct committeewoman. She previously ran for supervisor in Cranberry but lost. Mr. Metcalfe had supported her at the time.

Mr. Metcalfe said he should be returned to office so that he can continue "to be a voice for limited, more efficient government, less taxation, local control of education and traditional family values." He said he believed his constituents like the fact that he has defended anti-abortion measures, including the "defunding of Planned Parenthood"; has led a fight against gay marriage; opposes limitations on the Second Amendment; and wants to do all he can do to tighten U.S. borders, even if it means penalizing businesses for employing illegal immigrants. He said he will continue to vote "no" to increased state spending.

Mrs. Redding said that, while she believes in core Republican values, she said those values shouldn't stand in the way of bringing home the bacon for her constituents as well as mending what she perceives as the broken fences due to Mr. Metcalfe's confrontational style.

Mr. Metcalfe and his wife, Elke, have one grown daughter. An Army veteran, he is vice chairman of the House Finance Committee and serves on the Education, Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness and the Labor Relations committees.

Mrs. Redding has worked as a research chemist. She and her husband, Kevin, have three children.

The 12th District covers southern Butler county.