TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Wen Tsung-yu (温宗諭), head of the TPP Changhua branch, said Monday the party hopes to work with the KMT to jointly endorse the candidate most likely to win next year’s county magistrate election.
Wen said the TPP does not necessarily plan to field a candidate against the KMT, adding it will back a jointly endorsed candidate to continue the achievements of current KMT Magistrate Wang Huei-mei (王惠美), per CNA.
The TPP holds two seats on the Changhua County Council and aims to increase its representation to three or more in next year’s election to form a party caucus. Wen said the party plans to complete its nominations for county councilor candidates by the end of January.
TPP Legislator Chang Chi-kai (張啓楷) served as director of the Industrial Development and Investment Promotion Center of Changhua County during Wang’s first term as magistrate. Chang had been rumored to consider a run for county magistrate, but he was nominated by the TPP to run for Chiayi City mayor earlier this month.
On Sunday, KMT Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong (謝衣鳳) said she plans to seek the party’s nomination for county magistrate, adding that KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) had discussed the possibility of her candidacy with her. Former Deputy Magistrate Hung Jung-chang (洪榮章), County Government Counselor Ko Cheng-fang (柯呈枋), and Hsieh’s brother, Changhua County Council Speaker Hsieh Dien-lin (謝典霖), have also been rumored to consider running in the party’s primary.
During a Sunday visit to a temple in Changhua, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said DPP Legislator Chen Su-yueh (陳素月) will represent the party in the county magistrate election, following opinion polls and a comprehensive evaluation of other potential DPP candidates, including Legislator Huang Hsiu-fang (黃秀芳), Changhua Mayor Lin Shih-hsien (林世賢), and former Changhua Mayor Chiu Chien-fu (邱建富).
Elections for county and city leaders, councilors, village chiefs, and local representatives are scheduled for Nov. 28, with candidate registration opening Aug. 29. Currently, 14 county and city leaders belong to the KMT, five to the DPP, one to the TPP, and two are independents.
