Candidates for the Dec. 1 elections took the opportunity to dress up and pull stunts at number-picking events throughout the country yesterday.
More than 500 candidates picked from a box the number that will appear alongside their name on ballot sheets.
Certain numbers, such as the number one, are more auspicious than others.
PHOTO: CHU PEI-HSIUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
The number-picking event, organized by the Central Election Commission, is always seen by candidates as a good arena to show off their support, as well as to generate publicity.
The lucky recipient of the auspicious number one was Lee Yong-ping (
"I have never been a lucky person at drawing lots, but I think I am very lucky this time," Lee said.
KMT legislator Mu Ming-chu (穆閩珠), running for Taipei City's northern district, came dressed in a theatrical outfit of the legendary woman warrior and Chinese opera heroine Mu Kuei-ying (穆桂英).
Outside Taipei, the number-selection events taking place in each city and county attracted the same frivolity.
Chiu Shao-chun (邱紹俊), independent legislative candidate for Miaoli County, wore the costume of Paokung (包公), a Soong dynasty government official known for his probity and integrity, who became a religious idol after his death.
Chu Mei-feng (璩美鳳), New Party legislative candidate for Taichung City, and Lai Kun-cheng (賴坤成), DPP candidate for Taitung County commissioner, both rode horses to their events.
One candidate even sought publicity by playing on the fears of the less-than-humorous but highly-topical bacteria anthrax.
Tsai Huan-sheng (蔡桓生), independent legislative candidate for Yunlin County, attempted to throw flour in a mock anthrax attack but was prevented by police from doing so.
The independent legislative candidate for Taichung County, Yen Ching-piao (顏清標), who was convicted on Aug. 31 and imprisoned for 20 years for attempted murder and corruption, was represented by his son, Yen Kuan-heng (顏寬恆), who picked the number five and placed it on a life-size cardboard cutout of his father.
Yen is a former Taichung County council speaker who enjoys extensive grassroots support. The High Court denied his request to be released on bail in October pending his appeal against the conviction.
Meanwhile, the ruling DPP released the result of its second poll yesterday, which forecast that it would win 82 to 87 seats in the legislature, including about 18 legislator-at-large seats.
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