A 28-year-old Democratic incumbent and his 55-year-old Republican challenger each say their vastly different life experiences make them best suited to take the state's 10th District House seat in November.

Incumbent Jaret Gibbons, who is seeking his second term, said he is intimately aware of the struggles his constituents face. He and his new wife are dealing with financial decisions, such as buying a home, that are directly impacted by the troubled economy.

"I'm dealing with experiences that most people are going through right now," Mr. Gibbons said. "I feel that, for me and my generation and for the next generation to come, I need to rebuild our community."

Mr. Gibbons, who grew up in Ellwood City, earned a bachelor's degree in political science and business administration from Duquesne University in 2003 and had just earned a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 2006 when he won the state House seat once held by longtime House member Frank LaGrotta.

Mr. LaGrotta was sentenced in February to six months' house arrest after pleading guilty to two felony charges related to hiring his sister and niece to fill nonexistent state jobs.

Republican challenger and political newcomer Bob Morabito, also an Ellwood City native, said he decided to run for office after he found himself complaining about the state of his hometown.

"I was devastated by the way this area had just died on the vine after the steel mills shut down," he said. "My wife said, 'Why are you complaining? Why don't you do something about it?' "

Mr. Morabito, who directs the Navy Junior Officer Reserve Training Corps for Penn Hills School District, where he also teaches Naval science, returned to Ellwood City after serving in the U.S. Navy for 20 years.

He retired as a commander in 2001. He said he learned to lead and govern in the military and would bring those skills to state government as a legislator.

"I've lived all over the world. I've worked with all levels of government," Mr. Morabito said. "Standing watch on a ship. Being responsible for people's lives. Living on principle. Those are the things that make me uniquely qualified."

While their approaches differ, Mr. Gibbons and Mr. Morabito agree the economy and the current state tax structure should be legislative priorities.

Mr. Gibbons said revitalizing towns and improving basic infrastructure so businesses will want to move into and stay in western Pennsylvania is a priority.

He said he wants to support businesses through better tax credits in addition to helping them find more energy-efficient ways to operate their facilities.

"We need to find a way to help companies keep functioning," he said.

Mr. Gibbons also said he'd like to eliminate school property taxes. Expanding the state sales tax would be one way to replace that revenue, he added.

Healthcare reform is also a priority for Mr. Gibbons. He said everyone has a right to affordable healthcare and he would back a state-supported, but privately run, healthcare program Pennsylvanians could buy into.

Mr. Morabito's approach to helping the local economy includes lowering business taxes and removing some regulations that hinder small businesses.

Eliminating the death tax and property taxes for anyone over the age of 65 are also priorities, he said.

"We've got to stop shooting ourselves in the foot with our taxation policies," he said. "We need to take care of ourselves with a tax policy that makes sense."

He also said expanding the state sales tax would be one way to replace eliminated property tax money.

Making sure all public schools are equally funded and holding legislators accountable for their actions are also issues Mr. Morabito said he would take with him to Harrisburg.

Mr. Gibbons said he wants to go back to Harrisburg so he can keep moving forward with the work his constituents have already trusted him to do.

"Change takes time and I want to continue the changes we have started," he said.

Mr. Morabito said his election bid to represent the 10th District, which includes portions of Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties, was born of necessity.

"I think western Pennsylvania has so much to offer," he said. "People of this area are salt of the earth and they deserve better than what they're getting."