Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Justin Huang (黃健庭) resigned yesterday to run in the upcoming Taitung County commissioner election, making him the seventh lawmaker in the current legislature to fail to complete his legislative term.
Huang told a press conference that he became fully dedicated to the election after voters in Taitung questioned why he continued to serve as a lawmaker while eyeing the election.
Huang said he hoped to fight a clean battle with his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rival. The DPP nominated Liu Ti-hao (劉櫂豪) for the Jan. 21 election. Huang also dismissed media speculation that he tendered his resignation because he had made an under-the-table deal with KMT headquarters.
Local media speculated that the KMT had said it would nominate Taitung County Commissioner Kuang Li-chen (鄺麗貞) for the legislative by-election after Huang resigned to run for the commissioner election.
On Friday, Kuang announced that she was giving up her reelection bid and wished Huang success.
Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said he did not know if there was any deal between Huang, Kuang and the KMT.
Despite Huang’s resignation, KMT legislators Chiu Ching-chun (邱鏡淳) and Wong Chung-chun (翁重鈞), who will both run in the year-end city and county elections, said they would not follow suit.
At a separate setting yesterday, KMT Secretary-General Chan Chun-po (詹春柏) denied that Huang resigned in exchange for the nomination of former Taitung County commissioner Wu Chun-li (吳俊立) in the by-election to fill his seat.
“Huang made the decision to show his determination to serve Taitung residents and the party will make every effort to campaign for him and help him win the election,” Chan said.
Chan said the party never encouraged candidates of local government head elections to resign as legislators.
KMT spokesman Lee Chien-jung (李建榮) said the party respected Huang’s decision and denied that the party had persuaded him to quit.
“It is Huang’s decision to resign and it doesn’t represent the KMT’s position,” Lee said.
The KMT will start the primary process for the Taitung legislative by-election after the Taitung County Election Commission determines the date for the by-election, Lee said.
Wu Chun-li said he had no immediate plan to run in the by-election.
Asked whether his ex-wife, incumbent Taitung County Commissioner Kuang, was interested in joining the by-election, Wu Chun-li said he did not know.
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