Chang in Kaohsiung to garner support, local politicians say

Former minister of the interior Chang Po-ya (張博雅) has already decided to join the year-end Kaohsiung mayoral election as an independent candidate to challenge incumbent Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), politicians in the city said yesterday.

"Chang is now in Kaohsiung seeking advice from local heavyweights," DPP lawmaker Chiu Yung-jen (邱永仁) said yesterday after a closed-door meeting with Chang. "And we feel that she has made up her mind to run for city mayor."

Chiu said Chang had been in close contact with city councilors, mainly KMT and PFP members, and it seems that she has received a very positive response.

"Many independent and PFP city councilors have expressed their support for Chang," Chiou said. "Especially PFP members. They said that the `pan-blue' team should support Chang because she is more experienced in politics and has more personal charisma than the members of their parties who are now vying for nomination."

While some local PFP members seem happy to support Chang, rather than cooperate with the KMT to jointly nominate a candidate, the party's central headquarters recently reiterated that the consensus between it and the KMT remained unchanged.

The heads of the two parties will continue negotiations to select a joint candidate from four hopefuls, including PFP Vice Chairman Chang Chao-hsiung (張昭雄) and three KMT local heavyweights, the PFP said.

Local KMT leaders yesterday held a press conference to question Chang's sincerity in seeking to lead Kaohsiung City, saying residents of the city had become disgusted with politicians who treated Kaohsiung as a springboard for their political careers, or as a place to retire.

"Kaohsiung seems to have become a springboard for frustrated politicians," said KMT councilor Yang Min-lang (楊敏郎). "Neither former DPP chairman Shih Ming-teh (施明德) nor Chang Po-ya are really concerned about the city until they lose in [other] elections."