State Rep. Peter J. Daley, D-California, faces two primary challengers this month, but the usual haranguing involving stagnant economic development, infrastructure and job growth besetting the 49th Legislative District isn't being brought to the forefront by his opponents this time.

Barbara Reis, the elected tax collector in North Charleroi, wants to focus on what can be done to help seniors and communities. Randy Barli, who is challenging Mr. Daley for the third time, is raising concerns about the state gaming law and ethics.

Mr. Daley, 57, said the issues are more broad and positive because things in the district, which encompasses most of the Mon Valley in Washington and Fayette counties, have improved during his 26 year tenure.

While Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp. earlier this month closed its Allenport mill and laid off 240 workers -- "very disappointing" to Mr. Daley, who was trying to broker a deal -- a new technical college is opening at the Mon Valley Career and Technology Center.

It's a project Mr. Daley has worked on for years, and a sister college will be located at the Fayette County Career and Technology Center.

Mr. Daley said he had hoped Wheeling-Pitt would keep about one-third of the workforce at Allenport, but now he's working to get state funding for new equipment or whatever it takes to refurbish the plant for new ownership.

Mr. Daley is seeking his 14th term in office and serves as majority chairman of the state House Commerce Committee, and as a member of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and the Game and Fisheries Committee.

He also is working to push through his so-called "30 and out" initiative in the state House. It's a bill that he believes would save about $240 million and create 18,000 new jobs statewide by offering incentives to state employees and public school teachers to retire after 30 years of service to make room for younger employees who earn less.

Mr. Barli, 52, a former Coal Center councilman and retired electrician, declined to be interviewed but referred to a one-page notarized election statement to represent his positions.

In it, Mr. Barli questions the wisdom of portions of the Gaming Act of 2004 and the state Ethics Act, regarding cheating and ethical guidelines for legislators. He believes lottery vending machines are "designed to corrupt the youngest" due to the height of the devices.

He advocates a tightening of ethical restraints for the state Legislature, better controls on legislator expenses and a revision or elimination of any benefits for legislators from gaming interests.

In 2004, Mr. Barli pleaded guilty to harassment in Westmoreland County, and in 2006, he spent several weeks in jail after being convicted of disorderly conduct and driving with a suspended license.

His license had been recalled in 2003 due to a medical condition, and he was accused of driving away and calling a California police officer a profane name after she saw him driving and pulled him over in June 2006.

Mr. Daley, a lawyer, had legal issues involving a business in which he and his wife, Sally, participated. A company in which the Daleys were majority shareholders, American Delis Inc., filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in 2005.

The company operated two Quiznos Subs restaurants in State College and Morgantown, W.Va.

Records show Mr. Daley and other shareholders satisfied all debts to creditors, the Internal Revenue Service and the state Revenue Department totaling nearly $112,300 within the past two years.

Mrs. Reis, 55, has been the elected tax collector in North Charleroi for 10 years, and said she entered the race partly because seniors who come to her office "don't have a clue as to the programs available to them," she said.

Mrs. Reis, who also works as an office manager for an optometrist, said she wants to reach out to constituents by instituting awareness programs, along with senior's and children's fairs.

She said she would be more accessible than Mr. Daley by attending town hall meetings herself and not sending a staff member.

Mr. Daley said his staff visits senior centers every month throughout the district and that he keeps in touch with voters through newsletters and e-mails. He gets about 1,200 a week.

Mrs. Reis also said grant money should be more equitably distributed throughout the district and constituents need more one-on-one attention.

In West Brownsville, for example, she said volunteer firefighters are welding together an old fire truck because there are no funds for new equipment.

"It's sad," she said. "These people need some help."

Mrs. Reis said she is a volunteer at Mon Valley Hospital and has raised money for Toys for Tots and the local food bank.

The wife of a steelworker, Mrs. Reis said it's gratifying to meet people door to door who feel the same way she does. She said the district needs a new direction and new leadership, and she's finding people who agree.

"I know what these people are going through," she said. "They think it's time for change as well."