A 26-year-old woman became the acting chief of Dalin Township (大林) in Chiayi County on Tuesday after taking over the position from her mother, who was sentenced to a three-month jail term after being convicted on vote-buying charges.
Huang Chen-yu (黃貞瑜) assumed the post in a takeover ceremony presided over by Lin Chin-jung (林琴容), director of Chiayi County’s civil affairs department, at the Dalin Township Office.
Brushing aside the opposition of the Ministry of the Interior and the dissatisfaction of some residents with the Chiayi county government’s approval of the move, Lin said he believed that Huang, who had worked as an aide to a county councilor, was capable of leading the township.
The Ministry of the Interior issued a statement last week expressing its disagreement with the local government’s decision, contending that the solution was unacceptable to the public because it would fuel widespread suspicion that Lee would still be running the township through her daughter.
Some residents accused the Chiayi County Government of playing tricks to gain an edge in the next township chief election.
Lee Shiou-mei (李秀美), the departing Dalin Township head, was stripped of her duties after being sentenced by the Taiwan High Court under the newly amended Election and Recall Law of Civil Servants (公職人員選舉罷免法) to three months in prison for buying votes by handing out free tea.
Lee has appealed the case to the Supreme Court and would be able to reassume the office if the Supreme Court revokes the High Court’s ruling. The county government therefore allowed her daughter to take over the post while waiting for the court’s ruling.
Chiayi County Commissioner Chen Ming-wen (陳明文) said the decision was made for the sake of continuity in the township administration, despite the fact that Huang is not taken the national examinations for public servant certification.
Chen said no laws banned the move.
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