Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday publicly endorsed Hualien’s incumbent deputy commissioner Chang Chih-ming (張志明) as the next Hualien County head, hoping a cross-party effort would be sufficient to end the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)’s longstanding monopoly over the eastern county.
While the DPP does not have its own nominee for Hualien in the local government chief race this Saturday, the pan-blue camp faces a three-way split that threatens Tu Li-hua (杜麗華), the KMT’s candidate.
The other two — incumbent KMT Legislator Fu Kun-chi (傅崑萁) and Chang — were both expelled from the KMT for insisting on running as independent candidates.
Fu was indicted on Feb. 2, 2000, for speculating in Taiwan Pineapple group shares 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. His second appeal is ongoing.
Shaking hands with Chang at an open meeting, Tsai said the DPP decided to throw its weight behind Chang because he shared many political beliefs, while the party and the DPP was confident his platform centered on helping the marginalized would bring maximum benefits to the residents of Hualien.
Tsai praised Chang for having an honest and clean political record and his reputation as a staunch supporter of the underdog.
“We ask all voters to help Chang get into office so that Hualien can have a fresh start after the KMT’s ineffective governance for so many years,” said Tsai, who wrote an open letter to all DPP members urging them to support the party’s choice.
Speaking at another election rally in Hualien, Tsai attacked President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who has been zig-zagging around the country to stump for KMT nominees in his capacity as KMT chairman, of making fragile political promises to woo voters.
The DPP said Ma’s presence in various election events could lead voters into thinking that KMT nominees would enjoy full backing from the central government if elected.
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