Two DPP politicians deny eyeing Kaohsiung position

While the current mayor of Kaohsiung agonizes over whether to run for a second term or for chairman of the DPP, two figures reported to be likely candidates in the Kaohsiung race yesterday both denied that they planned to run.

The local Chinese-language media reported yesterday that Chairwoman of the Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) Chen Chu (陳菊) or lawmaker Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁), would be possible DPP candidates for the race should Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), who is also DPP chairman, decide not to run for re-election. Both, however, denied the report.

Chen Chu (陳菊) did so at the CLA's annual press conference yesterday.

"Serving the [nation's] workers is the fulfilment of one of my lifelong dreams. I am definitely not going to give it up, and I've never said a word about running a campaign in Kaohsiung," Chen said.

"I am a professional campaigner. We will respect Mayor Hsieh's decision. I don't have any plan for the election at this moment," she said.

Despite Chen's comments, Hsieh told the media yesterday, "Chen Chu wouldn't be able to do a better job than me if she ran in the election."

Hsieh has said that he will choose one post from his current two. Opinion polls have shown that Kaohsiung residents are dissatisfied with his performance while some DPP factions have indicated that they will not support Hsieh for a second term as party chairman either.

Mayoral elections in Taipei and Kaohsiung, the nation's two special municipalities, are to be held in December on a date to be announced.

The election for DPP chairman will take place on May 26.

Chen Chu is a senior DPP politician. She was imprisoned for her involvement in the 1979 Kaohsiung Incident.

Before taking her current post, she served as chairwoman of both Taipei City's and Kaohsiung City's bureaus of social affairs.

Liao Da-chi (廖達琪), professor of political science at National Sun Yat-sen University in Kaohsiung, said, "I believe Hsieh will eventually represent the DPP in the mayoral election, and I don't see any reason for Chen Chu to run in Kaohsiung."

Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁), the other name mentioned as a likely DPP candidate said yesterday that he just wants to be a lawmaker. Chen was elected Dec. 1 as a legislator representing a Kaohsiung constituency.

Meanwhile, Cheng Kuang-feng (鄭光峰), head of the DPP's Kaohsiung division, said there is a 99 percent chance that Hsieh will stand in the city's election.