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Legislative elections and referendums: FEATURE: Mechanic and self-styled assassin spice up election

Independent legislative candidate Chang Ching-yuan shows one of the free mudflaps bearing his name and policy suggestions in a photo taken at his motorcycle shop in Taipei last month. PHOTO: LIU JUNG, TAIPEI TIMES

Although the new "single member district, two-vote" system leaves little room for independent candidates, several "election regulars" are still entering the fray.

Among them are Chen Yuan-chi (陳源奇) and Fang Ching-chun (方景均), the eldest legislative candidate. New faces include Tseng Chin-pei (曾瑾佩), the youngest legislative candidate; Chang Ching-yuan (張慶源), a mechanic; Wei Chih-chung (魏志中), self-styled "assassin;" and Mei Feng (梅峰), who insists that he is running to become a Chinese legislator.

Taipei City has eight electoral constituencies and 46 candidates, with 12 incumbent legislators seeking re-election.

Running in the city's eighth electoral constituency, Fang, born in 1930, is a retired teacher from Jianguo High School. Since 1975 he has campaigned in more elections than he said he could recall, including elections for legislators, county commissioners and National Assembly representatives.

Since his retirement, Fang has volunteered for libraries, hospitals, the police and as a community security guard. He has also maintained a passion for political participation -- despite opposition from family members.

Fang said he saw a greater need for reform with each election, and was encouraged by the personal growth he attained as a result of having been thwarted each time.

Tseng, on the other hand, is younger, a woman and more hopeful. Nominated by the Green Party, Tseng, 30, holds a master's degree in philosophy from National Taiwan University.

She has been involved in various civil movements, including opposing the building of Hsi-Pao Reservoir in Hualien County, supporting the Losheng ("Happy Life") Sanatorium, acquiring subsidies for Yunlin County towel manufacturers and promoting public childcare.

Tseng said her aim in joining the election was to promote environmental awareness.

Chang, from the fourth electoral constituency, which encompasses Nangang (南港) and Neihu (內湖) districts, operates a scooter shop in Donghu (東湖).

According to neighbors, Chang is a figure of justice whose shop has become a regular community center.

While he does not preach politics to unfamiliar customers, Chang offers free mud flaps emblazoned with his advertisement. Many customers' scooters become roaming advertisements for his campaign.

A long-term "election regular," Chen has since 1980 participated in elections for legislators, national assembly representatives and a Tainan City mayor, partnered with a Taiwan Independence Party candidate as vice provincial governor and competed in two presidential elections.

Wei, secretary to People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), styles himself an "anti-Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) assassin." He is running in the fifth electoral constituency, encompassing Wanhua (萬華) and northern Zhongzheng (中正) districts.

Last year, Wei was prosecuted for heckling the president in close proximity on Double Ten Day.

"The Presidential Office, the Taipei Prosecutor's Office, which prosecuted me, and Zhonghzheng Police Station are all located in the Zhonghzheng district," Wei said. "I have lived here in the district since I was a child, and they are what prompted me to run in the elections."

Mei Feng, running in the eighth electoral constituency, received press attention after a recent collision in which a vehicle driven by his campaign aid hit a reporter.

Mei says he has been involved in politics for 10 years, and has been a long-time critic of the DPP and the president.

However, he only rose to fame recently by frequently criticizing Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
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