In a primary debate that focused more on background than policy issues, the Republican candidates for Hilton Head Island's Statehouse seat on Thursday defined themselves by their experience.

Richard Chalk, who previously served in the North Carolina House of Representative and Senate, said he brings lawmaking experience that could land him better leadership positions and more clout in Columbia.

Starletta Hairston, a Beaufort County Councilwoman, said her extensive involvement in the Hilton Head community makes her the best candidate.

The candidates will face off in a June 8 primary. No Democrats are running for the House seat held by Rep. JoAnne Gilham, R-Hilton Head, who is not seeking re-election.

In the debate, sponsored by the Hilton Head Island Republican Club, Hairston was asked whether she would be pressured by the House Black Caucus to vote with Democrats.

"I don't think that I will be pressured at all because I will go in with the understanding that I am a Republican," Hairston said. "If I was going to vote Democratic, I would've stayed with the Democratic Party."

Hairston said she brings diversity that is important to the Republican Party.

"I believe, if I heard the Republican Party correctly, you wanted more minorities involved," she said. "If I heard correctly, you said you wanted more women, African-American women."

While both candidates said they support charter schools, Chalk said they are not the solution to South Carolina's "broken" education system. Too many students are not graduating from high school, he said. Students need a stronger foundation earlier, in third, fourth and fifth grades.

"The basic problems we have in education today are not going to be solved by charter schools or vouchers," he said.

Chalk added that the state's approval process for charter schools is too cumbersome and should be simplified.

The candidates were asked to respond to recent news that Hairston owes the state and federal government more than $100,000 for income taxes withheld from employees of her family's business, Pro Plastering and Stucco. Liens have been filed against Hairston and her business, now in her husband's name, for the unpaid taxes.

Hairston said she had no problem discussing the debt, owed because the small business has struggled recently. She and her husband will pay the taxes as soon as they can, she said.

"It is nothing that I'm ashamed of," she said. "It is a problem any other small business on the island goes through."

Chalk called the matter a "non-issue."

"All of us have our little personal secrets we don't want anyone to know about," he said.

The question of addressing illegal immigration divided the candidates. Chalk said the issue must be solved at the federal level.

But Hairston said the problem should be discussed locally because illegal immigrants drive down wages by working for less than the minimum wage. Business licenses should not be given to illegal immigrants.

"It is hard to compete as a small business with somebody who does not play the game the way you play the game," she said.