Absent on Tuesday's primary ballot will be a name that had appeared there 16 times before -- state Rep. Jess Stairs, R-Mount Pleasant, who is retiring after representing the 59th District in the state House for 32 years.

Two Republican candidates and one Democrat have stepped forward to take his place in the district, which encompasses much of the Laurel Highlands, including the eastern half of Westmoreland County and a small portion of Fayette County.

Local contractor and Ligonier Borough Councilman Robert E. "Buddy" Helterbran, 64, challenged Mr. Stairs unsuccessfully during the post-pay raise bloodbath of 2006. He said he'd already decided to come at the incumbent again before Mr. Stairs announced his retirement in January.

Mr. Stairs is one of about 20 state lawmakers who will be retiring this year. Some, such as Mr. Stairs, would have faced tough re-election challenges with multiple opponents. Mr. Stairs did not vote for the pay raise.

Also vying for the GOP nod will be Westmoreland County Assistant Finance Director Mike Reese, a 30-year-old with a master's degree in business administration, who believes the key to good government is lower business taxes.

Mr. Reese would bolster job growth and increase economic development in the district by reducing the corporate net income tax.

"I believe the playing field should be level for large and small businesses," said Mr. Reese, of Mount Pleasant.

A county commissioner candidate last year and previously chief of staff for former commissioners Terry Marolt and Phil Light, Mr. Reese said Pennsylvania needs to concentrate on work force development and creating life-sustaining jobs.

Politicians often miss the big picture, he said. "I think sometimes they look at today and not tomorrow and we need to get out of that practice," he said.

Mr. Reese and Mr. Helterbran support more open government, a decrease in spending and a smaller Legislature, but Mr. Helterbran also would focus on improving public education and the lives of farmers.

Mr. Helterbran would like discussions with the farming community and meaningful reform on issues like mandatory ethanol production, which is hurting some livestock farmers.

"I would like to sit down with farmers and hear their proposals," he said. "Something has to be done."

Mr. Helterbran, a former high school teacher, ninth-grade basketball coach and YMCA volunteer, also would support finding ways to make the state funding formula for the public education system more equitable.

Mr. Helterbran said he's eager to see reformers like himself swept into office on what he hopes will be the second wave of change.

"I just wish I could have already been there for two years," he said. "I feel like I've wasted two years. If I get in and people like me get in, I do expect to see some major changes."

Michael Obarto, 49, a Unity supervisor, is running uncontested for the Democratic nomination.