Editorial: For the Pennsylvania Senate

Two Republican township commissioners are looking to expand their political horizons in the race to succeed the 17th District's retiring state senator, Connie Williams.

Lisa Paolino, 46, a marketing consultant from the Delaware County side of the district, was first elected a Radnor Township commissioner in 1999. She has served as the board's vice president since 2003.

Montgomery County's Lance Rogers, 33, a lawyer at Pepper Hamilton L.L.P., was elected to the Lower Merion commission in 2005, as an independent - a point lifelong Republican Paolino is quick to note. But for this race, Rogers has been endorsed by both county GOP committees and several Republican officeholders, including U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach.

Paolino and Rogers have much in common.

Both candidates are familiar with how Harrisburg's actions - or inaction - affect Pennsylvanians locally, whether it's unfunded mandates or obstacles to passing smoking ordinances. Both promise to fight for lower taxes and open space. Neither is likely to support new gun-control measures - but both would consider granting local authorities the power to deal with gun issues.

When it comes to statewide issues, such as pending health-care legislation, neither Paolino nor Rogers demonstrates a command of the details that they will need in the general election against Democrat Daylin Leach, an experienced state representative. But there's still time to study before the final.

In such a close matchup, Rogers' resume gives him an edge. He has been a White House intern, a federal judge's clerk and an advocate for open government - a much-needed commodity in Harrisburg. (Disclosure: As a lawyer, he worked on cases for The Inquirer.) The Inquirer endorses

LANCE ROGERS

.