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Fu files for Hualien County race

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Fu Kun-chi, left, registers for the Hualien County commissioner race yesterday, accompanied by his wife, Hsu Chen-wei. PHOTO: CNA

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Fu Kun-chi (傅崑萁) completed the registration process for the Hualien County commissioner election yesterday even as his party promised to discipline members who run in the year-end elections against the party’s wishes.

Fu, who was barred by the KMT from taking part in the party primary because he was found guilty in his first and second trials in two separate cases, said the party failed to answer his request for a chance to join the election.

“I need to respect mainstream opinion in Hualien and run in the commissioner election. The people in Hualien will determine the next commissioner,” he said in Hualien.

Fu is the third KMT member to decide to run for the Hualien commissioner’s job.

Hualien County Deputy Commissioner Chang Chi-ming (張志明) withdrew from the party to run as an independent against KMT nominee Tu Li-hua (杜麗華).

Fu said the KMT praised him two years ago during the legislative elections for his contributions in pushing for the development of Hualien and he criticized the party for denying him a chance in the commissionership primary.

Fu is likely to be expelled from the party, as KMT Secretary-General Chan Chun-po (詹春柏) has promised to strictly discipline members who insist in running in elections in violation of party regulations.

Fu was indicted on Feb. 2, 2000, for illegally speculating in Taiwan Pineapple Group stock in 1998. In 2003, the Taipei District Court sentenced him to six years in jail, fined him NT$150 million (US$4.5 million) and deprived him of his civil rights for four years. He filed an appeal with the Taiwan High Court and on June 11 the court sentenced him to four years in jail and a fine of NT$20 million. He appealed again.

Meanwhile, Taitung County Commissioner Kuang Li-chen (鄺麗貞), a KMT member, said yesterday she would not seek re-election and promised to give her full support to the party’s nominee, KMT Legislator Justin Huang (黃健庭).

Kuang’s decision prevented a pan-blue split in Taitung County.

KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) said the party had also dissuaded hopefuls in Nantou and Yilan counties from competing against party nominees, adding that the party would continue to seek integration in the elections.

Yesterday was the last day for anyone wanting to run for mayoral or county commissioner posts in most cities and counties and for seats in city or county councils.

The elections will be held on Dec. 5. However, no elections will be held in Taipei County, Taichung County, Taichung City, Tainan City, Tainan County and Kaohsiung County because they will either be directly upgraded to the status of a special municipality or be mutually integrated into a special municipality next year.

Elections for the leaders of the new special municipalities will be held simultaneously with those for the heads of the two existing special municipalities — Taipei and Kaohsiung — late next year.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
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