TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — KMT Changhua County chapter Chair Hsiao Ching-tien (蕭景田) said Tuesday that lawyer Wei Ping-cheng (魏平政) had been asked to travel to Taipei on Wednesday to potentially accept the party’s nomination for the Changhua County magistrate race.
Hsiao said Monday that he had recommended the party complete the nomination process Wednesday, citing ongoing internal friction caused by delays, per UDN. He added that the KMT had decided not to conduct public polling on potential contenders.
Speaking Tuesday, Hsiao said party rules require the nominee to be present when the KMT chair formally announces the candidacy during a central committee meeting, per Newtalk. He added that Wei had long planned to enter the race but kept a low profile while the influential Hsieh political family considered whether to back KMT Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong’s (謝衣鳯) possible bid.
Other potential KMT contenders criticized the expected nomination after Hsiao’s announcement.
Changhua County Government counselor Ko Cheng-fang (柯呈枋) said the nomination process had been marked by repeated delays and shifting standards for candidate selection, per CNews. He argued that nominating someone without strong local support was effectively equivalent to not nominating a candidate at all.
Former Deputy Magistrate Hung Jung-chang (洪榮章) said Wei’s recent effort to visit 26 townships in one day resembled “a salesperson trying to meet a quota,” noting that Wei spends most of his time in Taipei. He argued the party’s willingness to nominate a candidate lacking grassroots backing was the core issue.
Hsieh Yi-fong also questioned the move, saying that while direct nomination may work in other municipalities, Changhua County politics are deeply rooted in local networks, per Storm Media. She added that Wei lacks both the administrative experience and public profile of Taoyuan Mayor and former premier Chang San-cheng (張善政), who was nominated as the party’s Taoyuan mayoral candidate.
Local political insiders told The Journalist that the Hsieh family had initially planned to support Hsieh Yi-fong’s candidacy before being persuaded to step back. According to the sources, another contender for the magistrate nomination warned the family against becoming overly aggressive politically, citing legal troubles faced by other political dynasties in Taiwan.
Changhua County Councilor Hsu Yuan-lung (許原龍), who had planned to support Hsieh Yi-fong in hopes of securing the family’s backing for his own council speaker ambitions, is now reportedly considering cooperation with DPP candidate Chen Su-yueh (陳素月).
Chen’s candidacy has also fueled speculation that President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) is seeking to consolidate influence over Changhua County’s local political landscape. Political observers said the DPP is betting that divisions within the KMT, combined with Chen’s favorable public image, could improve the party’s chances in the race.
