A 30-year-old attorney is one of seven candidates seeking to succeed two-term Republican state Rep. Jeff Coleman in the 60th District that covers much of Armstrong County.

Marc Taiani of Spring Church, Armstrong County, is seeking the Democratic nomination in the April 27 primary for the open seat in the district that encompasses a large portion of Armstrong and a small part of Indiana County.

Coleman is not seeking re-election to a third term.

Taiani said at the center of his platform is the need for local and school property tax reduction.

He said he supports part of Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell's plan for property tax reform, including a proposal for slot machines at state racetracks.

Proponents estimate $1 billion could be raised through the legalization of slot machine gambling, and that revenue could be distributed to school districts to reduce property taxes.

However, Taiani said under any proposal that would cut property taxes, additional revenue through modest wage and/or sales tax hikes would likely be needed.

He also supports increased funding for school districts and a more equitable system to fund public education.

"I think Harrisburg should take the revenue from local districts and redistribute funds so all school districts would receive equal funding," he said.

Tainai noted he backs proposals for voter referendums to approve further tax increases under any property tax reform plan.

Meanwhile, he said, if elected, he would work as a kind of salesman to attract new businesses to the district.

"You have to be willing to sell your product, and I would work to sell the district outside the region, state and even the country to get businesses to relocate here," he said.

Taiani said he would like to see each municipality in the district develop its own Web site to offer information such as maps, demographics, recreational attractions and contacts for new businesses.

Additionally, Taiani has proposed having a full-time grant writer in his legislative office "solely to request state and federal grants in our district."

Taiani is a 1992 graduate of Apollo-Ridge High School and in 1996 earned bachelor's degrees in history and political science from Indiana (Pa.) University. He earned his law degree in 2001 from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

He practices law out of his Pittsburgh office and primarily deals with corporate and civil cases.

Other Democratic candidates are Barry Crytzer of Rayburn Township, publisher of the shopper paper "The Horsetrader," and Jodi Sysyn Myers of Kittanning, president of her own consulting firm and a former director of the Armstrong County Chamber of Commerce.

The four Republicans seeking the nomination are: Ron Covone of South Buffalo Township, a township supervisor; Mayor Jeff Pyle of Ford City; Rebekah Snyder-Starr of West Kittanning, owner of a flight school at the Indiana County Airport, and Dan Warner of Manor Township, founder and president of Warner Printing and Warner Advertising in Ford City.