HONOLULU -- Gov. Linda Lingle Wednesday refused to say whether a representative she appointed should resign after failing to disclose $125,000 in state tax debts.

Lingle appointed small business advocate Beverly Harbin to a vacant state House seat last Friday. On Monday, KITV found Harbin and her husband's Honda auto repair business had $125,000 in unpaid state taxes.

"First, I was surprised, and second, disappointed, because she was asked whether there was anything that could embarrass the administration," Lingle said.

Harbin's troubled auto repair shop closed in 2000. She said she didn't disclose the tax problems to the governor because she considered them a "dead" issue. Lingle said if she had known about the tax problems, she would not have appointed Harbin.

"What's your opinion on whether she should resign?" KITV reporter Keoki Kerr asked the governor.

"Well, I'm not going to offer an opinion other than to tell you she has a year now to try to do a good job for the people of that district, and for the small businesses all across the state," Lingle said.

As a result of the controversy, Lingle said she is changing her screening process.

"We're talking about a combination of requiring a tax clearance, to requiring someone to allow us to get their tax records," the governor said.

The last time Harbin ran it wasn't to represent the downtown district that she does now and it was not as a Democrat. She ran as a Republican for the state House in east Honolulu in 1980.

Harbin lost in the Republican primary for state House District 7 on Sept. 20, 1980, state elections spokesman Rex Quidilla said. She had a different last name, Endrizal, at the time. Then-Republican Donna Ikeda won the primary with 368 votes, while Harbin got 249 votes, Quidilla said. Ikeda later swtiched political parties and became a Democrat.

Democrats are angry because Harbin joined the Democratic Party just three days after her predecessor announced his resignation.

"I campaigned for Democrats. I walked Pauoa Valley for Audrey Hidano when she ran for Senate. I've done a lot of work for the party, but I just never have been a card-carrying Democrat," Harbin said.

Harbin said she won't resign.