The performance of most of the nation’s 25 local government heads improved this year, with Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) and Hualien County Commissioner Fu Kun-chi (傅崑萁) receiving top scores for the first time, a survey by Global Views Monthly magazine showed yesterday.
Chen, who will represent the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in seeking re-election in November, received “five stars” — on a scale of one to five — for her municipal achievements. She received “four stars” in the previous review.
Fu, who withdrew from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) to run in the election in December last year, received “five stars” after only five months in office. A former KMT legislator and an influential politician in Hualien, Fu enjoys high support in the county. He was expelled by the KMT for his alleged involvement in bribery cases last year, but still won the Hualien County commissioner election as an independent candidate.
Miaoli County Commissioner Liu Cheng-hung (劉政鴻) of the KMT and Kaohsiung County Commissioner Yang Chiu-hsing (楊秋興) of the DPP continued to top the list this year, with both receiving “five stars,” the survey on local government chiefs showed.
Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強) of the KMT, who topped the list in the previous year’s survey, received “4.5-star” rating.
Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) of the KMT received “3.5 stars” for his performance, an improvement from his score of “three stars” last year.
Taoyuan County Commissioner John Wu (吳志揚) of the KMT also received “3.5 stars.”
Taipei County Commissioner Chou Hsi-wei (周錫瑋) and Hsinchu County Commissioner Chiu Ching-chun (邱鏡淳) received the lowest scores, with “three stars,” the poll showed.
Hau shrugged off the results of the survey, saying he was confident about his performance and chances in the November mayoral election.
The magazine said the survey asked local residents to rate the performance of their mayor or commissioner.
Most of the local government heads received higher scores in this year’s review.
The survey was roughly in line with a poll conducted by the Chinese-language United Daily News earlier this month, in which Chen was ranked as the most popular local government head, while Hau ranked 16th out of the 25 cities and counties, with an approval rating of 50 percent.
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