Republican Jim Blazeck is not a career politician, and, he said, that's a good thing.

He is challenging incumbent Democrat Matt Smith for the 42nd District seat in the state House of Representatives next month, somewhat short on experience but long on enthusiasm.

"I'm running because I feel the whole concept of capitalism is something that needs to be brought forward to the people," said Mr. Blazeck, 56, an engineer who lives in Mt. Lebanon.

He said one of his goals in working with the state Legislature would be pushing for nonspecific tax cuts that, in the long run, would actually result in revenue.

"The fact is that lowering taxes is actually the 'moral' tax policy in that it helps everyone over time," said Mr. Blazeck.

The district comprises Mt. Lebanon and parts of Scott, Bethel Park, Green Tree, Rosslyn Farms and Thornburg.

Mr. Smith, 36, also lives in Mt. Lebanon. As a freshman in the House, his focus the past two years included overtures toward reducing the size of the Legislature as well as its budget.

He and state Rep. Randy Vulakovich, R-Shaler, worked on a bipartisan plan.

"We said, 'Let's cut [the Legislature's budget] about 20 percent. That would bring it from about $330 million to $270 million."

Right now, the Legislature spends $23 per taxpayer, "as compared to Ohio and New York, which are down around $5 or $6 per taxpayer," Mr. Smith said.

"Our proposal was, let's take that money and not put it in the general fund but give it back to the taxpayers in the form of property tax relief."

The proposal was not successful because it didn't go over well with leaders from either party.

Still, "I'm an optimist in trying to get some of those things done," said Mr. Smith, a lawyer. "Those are the issues, along with campaign finance reform and redistricting reform."

Although Mr. Blazeck, who served on the Mt. Lebanon school board from 2001-05, also said that the Legislature should be cut, he called a 20 percent reduction "disingenuous, because it doesn't really begin to attack the magnitude of the problem."

He did not specify how deep the cuts should be.

Mr. Smith and Mr. Blazeck agree that the so-called "Bonusgate" corruption scandal has been on the minds of constituents.

House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, has not been charged, but a former aide has testified that Mr. DeWeese was aware that state funds were being used to pay state employees for political work.

"I think [constituents] appreciate the fact I was the first freshman to go out on a limb like that and call for the leader of my party to resign [as Majority Leader]," Mr. Smith said.

First-term representatives are among those credited with doing away with late-night votes and pushing to post the results of voting sessions online.

"I think it's really a reflection that prior to 2006, the system was way too closed, not transparent the way it needs to be," Mr. Smith said.

Doing what's best for the 42nd District often parallels what's best for Pennsylvania, said Mr. Blazeck, who grew up in North Versailles.

"Pennsylvania, my whole adult life, has been a slow-growing/dying state. There aren't any jobs here for young people," he said. "Kids want jobs, they're going to [Washington] D.C. and places like that. Now, why is that?

"It's tax policy out of Harrisburg and it's been very consistent for a long, long time and I think it's gotten worse under the Rendell administration."

He said he could offer no specifics at this point about what taxes could be lowered and how lost revenue would be made up, but added "I'm not trying to micromanage things. I really do believe in the power of the free market.

"If we could lower taxes, it would create an environment where other good things could happen. It won't happen tomorrow; most of these examples seem to take about 10-plus years."

Mr. Smith listed cutting the corporate income tax and lifting the cap on the carryover of net operating costs among his proposals to boost Pennsylvania's economy.

As the campaign enters its final weeks, the candidates stick to what they do best. Mr. Smith favors the door-to-door approach and enjoys the chats; he even visited homes in the district last year, when he wasn't up for re-election.

Mr. Blazeck said his background in engineering makes him a data-driven candidate and hopes to sell voters on his problem-solving skills.

"I try to analyze problems and situations and come up with the best possible situation, given the circumstances," he said.