The KMT yesterday selected Huang Jun-ying (黃俊英), former deputy mayor of Kaohsiung, as its contestant to vie to become the KMT-PFP joint candidate for Kaohsiung mayor.
Huang is in competition with PFP's pick, its vice chairman, Chang Chao-hsiung (張昭雄).
KMT Secretary-General Lin Fong-cheng (
"We hope very much that Huang Jun-ying will win the support of the PFP and represent the two parties to run in the race," Lin said.
Vice president of I-Shou University and a professor of business administration, the 61-year-old Huang is more an academic than politician.
Huang taught at National Chengchi University, California State Polytechnic University and National Sun Yat-sen University before joining the faculty of I-Shou University.
His political credentials include serving as the deputy mayor of Kaohsiung from 1995 to 1998 and 10 years as vice chairman of the Cabinet's Research, Development and Evaluation Commission from 1979 to 1987.
The KMT has favored Huang Jun-ying over two other aspirants -- Kaohsiung City Council Speaker Huang Chi-chuan (
The party spent much time over the past weeks persuading Huang Chi-chuan and Yao to drop their bids so they could wrap up the selection process yesterday.
According to Lin, the decision, which was made after a long period of negotiations, was one that transcended the confines of local political factions and yet took into account the possible development of the campaign.
Lin urged Huang Chi-chuan, Yao and their supporters to back up the party's decision in the interests of the party and for the sake of the future development of Kaohsiung.
Unveiling his campaign platform yesterday, Huang Jun-ying pledged to form a professional administration to develop Kaohsiung into a free port with a strong industrial infrastructure, a prosperous city with an energetic population and a charming city with a pleasant environment.
Of his low approval rating, Huang said this was "reasonable" because he had not appeared in local political scene and enjoyed little media exposure over the past few years.
Huang was upbeat that his approval rating would continue to grow after he officially joined the campaign, in light of the fact that the rating has risen to 20 percent in a poll released two days ago from 0.8 percent a few months ago.
PFP Secretary-General David Chung (
Chung, however, proposed that the KMT join the PFP to establish a "Kaohsiung new hope alliance" to react to Kaohsiung residents' anticipation to find a mayor better than the DPP incumbent Frank Hsieh (
Chung explained that the purpose of such an alliance would be to unite all forces outside the DPP to win the election.
Aftershocks from a magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck off Yilan County at 3:45pm yesterday could reach a magnitude of 5 to 5.5, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Seismological Center technical officer Chiu Chun-ta (邱俊達) told a news conference that the epicenter of the temblor was more than 100km from Taiwan. Although predicted to measure between magnitude 5 and 5.5, the aftershocks would reach an intensity of 1 on Taiwan’s 7-tier scale, which gauges the actual effect of an earthquake, he said. The earthquake lasted longer in Taipei because the city is in a basin, he said. The quake’s epicenter was about 128.9km east-southeast
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The New Taipei City Government today warned about the often-overlooked dangers of playing in water, and recommended safe swimming destinations to cool off from the summer heat. The following locations in the city as safe and fun for those looking to enjoy the water: Chienshuiwan (淺水灣), Baishawan (白沙灣), Jhongjiao Bay (中角灣), Fulong Beach Resort (福隆海水浴場) and Sansia District’s (三峽) Dabao River (大豹溪), New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Department Director-General Yang Tsung-min (楊宗珉) said. Outdoor bodies of water have variables outside of human control, such as changing currents, differing elevations and environmental hazards, all of which can lead to accidents, Yang said. Sudden
Tropical Storm Podul has formed over waters north-northeast of Guam and is expected to approach the seas southeast of Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. The 11th Pacific storm of the year developed at 2am over waters about 2,660km east of Oluanpi (歐鑾鼻), Pingtung County — Taiwan's southernmost tip. It is projected to move westward and could have its most significant impact on Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday next week, the CWA said. The agency did not rule out the possibility of issuing a sea warning at that time. According to the CWA's latest update, Podul is drifting west-northwest
RSS