TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — KMT Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong (謝衣鳯) said Thursday the party cannot afford to lose public trust, responding to signals from party Chair Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) that she may be ruled out as a candidate for Changhua County magistrate.
Hsieh has long been viewed as the KMT’s most competitive option in Changhua County and was initially favored for the nomination. However, her prospects appear to have dimmed after her family backed her brother, Hsieh Tien-lin (謝典霖), in his bid for reelection as county council speaker instead of supporting her magistrate run.
Commenting on the race, Cheng said the party may lean toward directly nominating a candidate due to the county’s complex local political dynamics, per UP Media. Asked about Hsieh’s lead in polls, Cheng said surveys have limited reference value and added she had discussed the matter with the Hsieh family multiple times.
When pressed on whether Hsieh was out of contention, Cheng nodded.
Hsieh responded Wednesday by emphasizing that she remains the opposition’s strongest candidate, citing her polling advantage, per ETtoday. She urged Cheng to recognize her ability to defeat DPP candidate Chen Su-yueh (陳素月).
Addressing Cheng’s remarks about prior communication with her family, Hsieh said Thursday that party leaders must deliver results through their actions to maintain public confidence in the KMT’s stability, per Liberty Times.
KMT insiders in Changhua said Cheng’s skepticism toward polling, after the New Taipei candidate selection relied on surveys, could deepen internal tensions and complicate efforts to unify local factions, per Liberty Times.
The nomination process remains deadlocked. Changhua County KMT Branch Chair Hsiao Ching-tien (蕭景田) is seen as backing lawyer Wei Ping-cheng (魏平政), while incumbent Magistrate Wang Hui-mei (王惠美) has reportedly tried to persuade New Taipei Deputy Mayor Liu Ho-jan (劉和然) to enter the race, per UP Media.
Liu has repeatedly declined, saying his focus remains on New Taipei governance and ensuring a smooth transition to the next administration, per Tai Sounds.
As the impasse continues, several potential candidates, including former deputy magistrate Hung Jung-chang (洪榮章) and Wei, have said they will defer to party leadership, per Liberty Times. However, Changhua County government counselor Ko Cheng-fang (柯呈枋) said selecting a candidate through polling would be the best path forward, warning that further delays could harm party unity and electoral prospects.
