Richard Chalk and Greg Wynn, the two candidates in state House District 123, squared off in a debate Saturday, drawing clear distinctions between their positions on public education and taxes.

The candidates were allowed opening and closing statements while also answering questions from a moderator and the 50-person crowd at the forum. The event was sponsored by the American Association of University Women and the League of Women Voters and held at the Seabrook retirement community.

Wynn, who gathered more than 1,100 petition signatures and is on the Nov. 2 ballot as an independent, said he would push for higher cigarette taxes to pay for health care programs such as Medicaid.

"Medicaid's got a simple funding source: Raise the cigarette tax," he said. "We have the lowest cigarette tax in the nation. That's crazy. You can fund Medicaid by raising (that tax)."

Chalk, who won the Republican primary in June, told the crowd he supports school choice and would support a tax credit for parents whose children are home-schooled or attend private schools. However, he said he does not support "an out-and-out voucher."

"I for the life of me can't understand why anyone would argue against changing the status quo to give these children who are not doing well a fair chance," Chalk said. "I think we've got to do some things to turn education on its head, to move it where it ought to move."

But Wynn said he would oppose a program that would give government money for vouchers or tax credits.

"You can't take money out of the public system and put it someplace else," Wynn said. "Taking money out of the system is not any more the answer than putting money in.

Chalk said he philosophically disagrees with the 0.25 percent tax that Hilton Head Island homeowners pay when they sell their homes. The revenue generated by the tax is used for the public good and, therefore, should be collected from all residents, he said.

That prompted pointed discussion surrounding the tax, which has generated $46 million that the town has used toward land purchases for preserving open space.

Members of the audience tried to pin down the candidates on their opinions of Beaufort County's proposed 1 percent capital improvements sales tax.

Wynn said while he opposed a similar referendum in 2002, he supports this year's tax question. He said voters should approve the measure because the state was ignoring problems on U.S. 278 that needed to be fixed, and other road and building projects included in the sales tax never would be eligible for state funding.

Chalk refused to give his opinion on the matter, saying "I've chosen not to take a position on it. It's not anything the legislature will be dealing with."

Several attendees said after the debate that they were impressed by Wynn but that they hadn't decided who would win their vote.

Bev James, a Sea Pines resident, said the candidates' comments that influenced her the most dealt with school vouchers.

"I feel very strong about not having any vouchers," said James, 60, a former schoolteacher.

She said she thought the numbers Chalk presented regarding South Carolina schools were incorrect. "So you can tell which way I'm leaning," she said with a laugh.

The candidates are vying to replace retiring Rep. JoAnne Gilham, R-Hilton Head.