TT: How much money will the campaign cost you?
Wang: I don't have an accurate figure right now. I guess the campaign will cost tens of millions of NT dollars.
In the past, one contender spent NT$4 billion and the other NT$400 million in their quests to win office. The New Party, strapped for cash, cannot give me a dime. I didn't ask for any money from the party anyway, knowing it needs to focus its resources on the legislative race.
I will not follow conventional wisdom and put up an aggressive and expensive campaign. KMT lawmaker Lin Jih-jia (
So far, I have raised a little more than NT$400,000 and have no intention of holding fund-raising dinners. Though some have pledged to help, the money has yet to come in. If I raise more than necessary, I will give the extra money to charities.
As before, I plan to get my message across to voters by placing ads in the print media. That way, I can save the costs of campaign pamphlets, flyers, brochures and so forth, as they are less effective in a large constituency. I plan to hold only one large rally on the eve of election day.
TT: Will KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) stump for you in the run-up to the polls?
Wang: I hope so. Both have expressed warm wishes for my bid and both parties have promised to help. The intensity of their goodwill remains to be seen, as I have not yet held any large rallies.
All three parties -- the KMT, the PFP and the New Party -- gave me their recommendation letters when I registered my candidacy on Oct. 10. I put the names of all three parties in the blank for party affiliations, which was in itself historically significant.
If I win the election, it will be a victory for all three parties.
TT: How will you staff your county government, if elected?
Wang: I will tap talent from all parties, including the DPP. Merit will serve as the primary yardstick. I don't mind retaining DPP holdovers if they are able and upright. However, I will save the matter for the future and give top priority to winning the race for the time being.
TT: Would you speculate on your prospects for winning the election?
Wang: The situation looks pretty good. The other day I paid a visit to Yungho where throngs of residents vied to get my autograph or have their photo taken with me. A KMT official accompanying me on the tour said he had never seen such a passionate crowd when canvassing for KMT candidates in the past.
On Oct. 9, I began a countywide tour. In DPP strongholds such as Sanchung, Luchou, Hsinchuang and Wukoo, receptions are less enthusiastic though.
TT: What will you do if you lose the election?
Wang: There are plenty of things I can do. I will return to charity work. Unlike most politicians, I don't have such heavy stakes in the elections. Rivals may charge me for not being a serious candidate. But that's not true. I'm just one of the very few who refuse to partake in the vulgar election culture.
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