[Gimp-user] Erasing to background color

[DaveC <davec2468 yahoo com>]

I’ve started using Gimp editor just yesterday. 

I read the on-line manual but can’t find the answer to my question. 

When I use the eraser to edit an imported pdf file, what remains is the checkerboard pattern, not the 
background color as indicated in the tool pallet. 

How do I configure Gimp such that when I erase I see the background color? 

Thanks,
Dave

Gimp 2.8.14p2
OS X 10.9.5 Mavericks