The race in the 44th legislative district has been unusually testy. Courtesy of their parties, incumbent Republican Mark Mustio and Democratic challenger Ayanna Lee have attacked each other with negative mailers.

But voters don't have to get into the weeds of detail on claims and counter-claims; the candidates offer contrasting philosophies to represent the district, which 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.

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PG AUDIO

Incumbent Republican Mark Mustio and Democratic challenger Ayanna Lee talk about their campaigns for the 44th House District.

• Mark Mustio
• Ayanna Lee

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Mr. Mustio, 51, of Moon has a conservative, business-first approach. He came to the House after years in his own insurance business. He won a special election in 2003 (after Rep. John Pippy moved up to the Senate) and twice subsequently won full terms.

With Sen. Pippy, Mr. Mustio has offered a plan to cut the size and cost of the Legislature -- a reform effort that has earned our praise.

On other issues, we have our differences. He opposed tolling 1-80 in the package to fund infrastructure and public transit. On health care, his prescriptions are less than bold and include piecemeal efforts like tort reform, reducing the number of medical tests and keeping more doctors in Pennsylvania. He also let the perfect be the enemy of the good by voting against the state smoking ban because it contained exceptions he opposed.

Ayanna Lee, 34, of Moon is a commercial real estate lawyer at law firm Reed Smith. Raised on the North Side, she attended Pittsburgh public schools until the eighth grade before receiving a scholarship to Sewickley Academy. Her law degree is from Duquesne University and her undergraduate degree from Point Park University, which she attended while working two jobs.

Ms. Lee puts people first in her agenda. She is passionate about the need for health care and education for working people, which she attributes to the plight of her mother who died when Ms. Lee was 9 and her own experience as a mother of two struggling to better herself and her family. She also supports cutting the size of the Legislature, backs tolling 1-80 and would have voted for the smoking ban, even though she opposed the exceptions.

The Post-Gazette has backed Mr. Mustio in the past two elections as a principled and committed public official. But this time we support a candidate not only closer to our views but also one with the passion and smarts to make a difference when ordinary people need an ally in Harrisburg. We endorse Ayanna Lee for the House.