Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Sinbei mayoral candidate Eric Chu (朱立倫) yesterday announced a change of location for a campaign event slated to be held on Monday at an elementary school after receiving complaints from parents who worried that the event would disrupt classes.
Chu initially planned to hold an event for a support club at the activity hall of Ruei-fang Elementary School on Monday morning.
TOO MUCH NOISE
A report by the Chinese--language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) quoted parents as saying that the event, originally planned for 8:30am, would have affected morning classes. A previous election event held by Chu at the venue included promotion vehicles, loud speakers and fire crackers.
The report quoted a parent surnamed Lu (呂) as saying that it would have been acceptable to hold the event at the activity center over the weekend.
“But to hold it during school hours left a bad impression, especially since political events should be kept away from schools,” she said.
Responding to the article, Chu said yesterday that he had already changed the location.
His campaign said that the location in Rueifang Township (瑞芳), a small town 45 minutes from Taipei City, was originally chosen as there were only two suitable venues in the township, the other being a busy train station.
“During this period, it is unavoidable that everybody will look at my [actions] through a magnifying glass,” Chu said.
NARROW LEAD
Recent polls suggest that Chu, a former Taoyuan County Commissioner, holds a narrow lead over his opponent, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文). The latest, by the Chinese-language Apple Daily on Oct. 12, gives Chu 35 percent support among the voters in Sinbei City (Taipei County’s new name after it is upgraded in December) compared to 31 percent for Tsai, with more than 33 percent still undecided.
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