HONOLULU -- Harbin said she will not step down. The governor does not have the power to remove the woman she appointed to a vacant house seat just a week and a half ago.

Harbin was convicted of passing bad checks in 1987.

KITV first reported that Harbin's failed Kakaako auto repair business still owes $125,000 in state taxes. The new revelation was that she was found guilty of three misdemeanor counts of passing bad checks in 1987.

"The governor is asking Ms. Harbin to step down immediately and voluntarily from her position," Lingle's Chief of Staff Bob Awana said.

He said Harbin never disclosed her criminal record or tax debts when he asked her repeatedly if there was anything in her background.

"But when you have criminal charges against you and you fail to disclose that. That's completely unacceptable to us," Awana said.

Awana said a state deputy sheriff failed to find her conviction during a criminal background check because he didn't do a check based on her Social Security number. She has remarried, so she now has a different name from the conviction record.

"I apologize to the people of my district and to the governor for any embarrassment I've caused… but I cannot and I will not resign," Harbin said. "I truly feel that I have something to offer the district."

House Democrats said the situation is the governor's fault.

"The Democrats had given her four community members to select from. But, she went out there and wanted to play politics with this and she made the appointment. She created this problem, and she needs to resolve it," Rep. Marcus Oshiro said.

A super-majority of the House, 34 members, could vote to remove Harbin in impeachment-like hearings where there would be evidence presented, and Harbin could cross examine witnesses. That is not happening yet.

"We will wait and see what the community of District 28 decides. Should they come forward with sufficient petitions and requests, then we'll have to address that," Oshiro said.

Harbin told KITV that she would welcome a state House session that would consider her removal. Because then, she said legislators would be forced to come up with a standard for what type of personal, professional and ethics problems should disqualify someone from serving in public office.