School choice and immigration issues took up most of a 90-minute discussion Thursday night between three Republican candidates for state House District 61.

Keith Grover, Garr Judd and John Tinsley all have filed for the race to be the GOP nominee to replace incumbent Margaret Dayton, who is running for a Senate seat.

The three candidates met before an audience at Cherry Hill Elementary School in Orem, an appropriate setting for a conversation that lingered on school issues.

The discussion turned almost immediately to school vouchers, an oft-debated concept that would allow the state to reimburse parents for their children's private school tuition.

"There is a myth and a rumor that a voucher system would hurt our public school system," said Tinsley, an Orem resident who owns an investigations company and a private security business. "Vouchers would save the state money. The choice to educate our children doesn't belong to bureaucrats and government officials."

Grover, an administrator at a junior high school, also expressed support for vouchers -- but said they have to be crafted properly.

"It is not a black-and-white issue," said the Provo resident. "I am not threatened by vouchers."

Also needing consideration, he added, are the additional resources required for special-needs students or those from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

Judd, who is the executive director of the Red Cross's Mountain Valley chapter, said he found aspects of a voucher bill considered by the state Legislature this year that he liked, "but I think there's a lot more research that needs to be done on this issue."

The candidates also touched on education while answering questions about immigration, and all were concerned about the public resources used by people who are in the country illegally.

"Those who are here legally contribute to our society," said Judd, who lives in Orem. "On the other hand, we have those millions who are here illegally who drain our resources, who really have no right to be here."

He said national borders need to be tightened and existing laws enforced -- but as far as those who are already in the country, he said only, "That's a challenge."

Tinsley also urged tighter border security and said the time for debating what to do has passed.

"We must do something. Anything," he said. "It is time to take action."

Grover, however, rebuked his opponents.

"I didn't hear any solutions," he said.

He suggested denying access to driving privileges for illegal immigrants and prosecuting employers who "wash" Social Security numbers, which he said allows illegal immigrants to find work more easily.

The filing period to run for office ends today for seats on the ballot this year.

In addition to the GOP contenders for this race, Provo residents Susan Chasson and Steve Saunders have put in their names in the race -- Chasson as a Democrat and Saunders for the Constitution Party.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D1.