TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former KMT Spokesperson Ho Chih-yung (何志勇) said Wednesday that he intends to run in this year’s Hsinchu mayoral election, despite KMT Chair Cheng Li-wen (鄭麗文) saying the party will support incumbent Mayor Kao Hung-an (高虹安).
Ho’s comments came after Cheng said Tuesday that the KMT would honor its agreement with the TPP by backing Kao as the opposition’s joint candidate, per Tai Sounds. Cheng said the party had communicated with Ho on multiple occasions, describing him as stubborn in his insistence on running.
Responding Wednesday, Ho said Kao is neither a TPP member nor, in his view, a strong candidate based on polling, per SETN. He said he is willing to meet directly with Cheng and other party leaders to convey what he described as the views of KMT supporters in Hsinchu.
Ho on Tuesday also unveiled members of his municipal advisory group, appointing former Transportation Minister Yeh Kuang-shih (葉匡時) as its convener, per Liberty Times. He said Hsinchu residents pay some of the highest taxes in Taiwan but remain dissatisfied with the city government, arguing that the problem lies with the mayor’s governing ability.
Responding to Ho’s continued insistence on running, KMT Culture and Communications Committee Chair Chen I-hsin (陳以信) warned Wednesday that Ho would face party disciplinary action if he entered the race in violation of party rules, per ETtoday.
