It's almost role reversal. In the 42nd District of the state House of Representatives, voters will choose between a fresh, young incumbent and an older, politically experienced challenger.

On the Nov. 4 ballot is Democratic Rep. Matt Smith, 36, who is completing his first two-year term, and Republican Jim Blazeck, 56, who served four and a half years on the local school board. The district covers Mt. Lebanon (where both candidates live), Green Tree, Rosslyn Farms, Thornburg and parts of Scott and Bethel Park.

Both candidates want to see reform in Harrisburg and, fortunately for the district, Mr. Smith has already been on the side of change. He supported rules revisions that ended late-night voting and posted House votes on the Internet. He backed the new open records law, which brought citizen access into the 21st century.

He's behind a bipartisan bill that would cut the size and cost of the Legislature, and he wants to reform campaign finance and take politics out of redistricting. Mr. Smith also has rocked the boat by calling for a deep rollback in the $240 million legislative surplus, which is too often used as a political fund for caucus chiefs, and by demanding that Rep. Bill DeWeese, his party's House leader, step down because of Bonusgate.

On other key issues, the House freshman supported the new smoking ban, but says he still would like to eliminate some of the exceptions. He backed the governor's unsuccessful bid to expand Adult Basic, which would have given more Pennsylvanians access to health insurance. He opposes leasing the turnpike and instead favors tolling Interstate 80 (a request he'd like to see resubmitted to Washington) to fund roads, bridges and public transit.

Mr. Blazeck, an electrical engineer, appreciates the reforms made so far in Harrisburg, but says legislative leaders must go further to increase transparency, like giving lawmakers more time to scrutinize the budget before voting on it. He also says Pennsylvania has a strong firearms tradition and he would vote to keep it that way.

He's running as an "economic conservative" and wants Pennsylvania to become one of the nation's five lowest-taxing states. He's not sure, however, what mix of readjusted rates would accomplish that or what budget cuts Pennsylvanians would have to endure along the way. We're worried that he would be willing to cut programs too close to the bone and to the detriment of his neighbors.

Matt Smith has a more balanced view of the district's needs and is off to a bright start as a conscientious reformer in the Legislature. We endorse him for re-election.