There is always a degree of political gamesmanship and controversy involved when a governor is asked to appoint someone to a vacant slot in the Legislature.

While that's to be expected, in the case of recent state House appointee Beverly Harbin, it's clear we have moved beyond party politics as usual.

She should step aside — for the good of her district.

The rules say the appointment must be a member of the same party as the person who previously held that seat. Governors follow that rule, but understandably want someone more in sync with their own political philosophy.

Gov. Linda Lingle's recent decision to appoint Harbin, a small-business advocate, to fill the seat vacated by Rep. Ken Hiraki clearly fits that pattern.

Harbin turns out to be a recent convert to the Democratic Party and recently moved into the district she was asked to represent. By itself, not all that unusual.

But Lingle and her administration are obviously stung by the fact that Harbin, a small-business owner, has some $120,000 in outstanding state tax liens.

This situation, Harbin says, is not uncommon in the rough-and-tumble world of small business. It's tough out there.

But had they known about the liens, Lingle officials said, they would not have chosen Harbin. You end up with a legislator voting for (or against) taxes and spending while they have an unpaid debt to the state themselves.

Harbin says she has no intention of resigning. In her view, she has an unusual opportunity to carry her message about the trials of small business into the halls of the Legislature.

But she has to balance her own agenda against the credibility of the legislative system and the needs of her new district. It is clear that Harbin is under a cloud and will inevitably become less effective in serving her district.

It's time for her to step aside and put her new district first. Allowing the governor to select someone else to fill out Hiraki's term is the right thing to do. And while the choice is clearly hers, Lingle should start by taking another look at the list of names provided by the Democratic Party.