A Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator-at-large, Tsai Huang-liang (
His vacancy will be replaced by former DPP legislator Hsu Jung-shu (
"I'm sure you guys will miss me," Tsai told reporters after a press conference organized to bid farewell to the 45-year-old.
PHOTO: CHANG CHIA-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
Accepting a sword offered by Hsu and a "diploma" presented by DPP caucus whip Lai Ching-te (
Tsai's resignation followed party rules, which require lawmakers to give up their post should they run as candidates in regional elections. His resignation came before the DPP's Central Standing Committee confirmed its nominees for the 16 electoral districts yesterday afternoon.
In addition to Tsai, other candidates for the year-end elections include former minister of justice Chen Ding-nan (
In Yunlin County, former DPP legislator Su Chih-fen (
DPP Legislator Lin Cho-shui (
To be a good caucus leader, Lin said that a person has to be able to negotiate with lawmakers from other parties and government officials.
With his 10-year experience in the legislature, Lin said that he believes Tsai would make a good county commissioner.
Tsai, who entered the political limelight about a decade ago and was elected to the legislature in 1995, said he hopes county residents will give him a chance to serve them and promised to get more funding for local infrastructure projects.
Tsai was born in 1960 into a poor tenant farmer's family of nine in Puli, Nantou County. He graduated from a two-year college program, which was previously affiliated with National Chengchi University and is now affiliated with the National Open University.
The life of the farmer's son took a dramatic turn in 1979 when the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) regime cracked down on an anti-government parade in Kaohsiung organized by Formosa magazine -- a brutal chapter in Taiwan's history later coined the Kaohsiung Incident (美麗島事件).
What the government did to those people made Tsai detest the KMT regime and prompted him to join the democratic movement after completing his military service.
He became a DPP member after the regime lifted a ban on political parties in 1986, but began his political career in 1984 as a township representative in his hometown. In the 18 years following, he has assumed positions ranging from township arbitrator, representative of his colleague Hsu's campaign office in Nantou, to county councilor and lawmaker.
Recalling working with Tsai in the days of the KMT era when the two ran an underground radio station, Hsu described Tsai as an articulate, quick-witted, hard-working and practical person.
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