While recognizing that Taitung County needs to expand its tourism industry, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Liu Chao-hao (劉櫂豪), the party’s Taitung County commissioner candidate, said he believes the county must do more than look to a glorious picture of the future and pay attention to its roots.
Liu’s bid for county commissioner in next month’s election is his fifth time running for a government office since entering politics, with two successful elections as a legislator representing the county and three failed bids for county commissioner.
“My running for office every time lends momentum to the county’s development,” Liu said in a recent interview with the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister paper).
Pointing to Taitung’s hot-air balloon festival, Liu said he could successfully continue the event and make it better, adding that he also recognized that the revitalization of key industries in the county was important.
The electrification of the Huadong Railway was an important achievement, and one completed under county commissioners from both parties, Liu said, adding that the result should not be claimed by any single party.
However, Liu said that old buildings in the county are being torn down to make way for large hotels, and that the demolition is removing history and reminders of people’s past.
“The fundamental issue is with the direction the county government is taking, focusing too much on development and not enough on preservation that conserves characteristics identifying Taitung County as a unique entity,” Liu said.
Bringing in industry might increase jobs, but would simply turn young people in the county into hired personnel, Liu said.
“If I am elected to office, I will prepare a total of NT$100 million [US$3.2 million] in loans for young people to create their own businesses,” Liu said, adding that such a measure would increase the value of microbusinesses in the county.
Liu also said that the maritime industry holds high development potential, but has been largely ignored by incumbent Taitung County Commissioner Justin Huang (黃健庭) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), adding that the county’s agriculture industry has also been left to its own devices.
“The county should take a more farmer-friendly approach in terms of agriculture,” Liu said.
Despite weak support for the DPP in the region, Liu said he believes he will be elected on Nov. 29 and would be at the helm of the county’s services to its residents.
The county, considered a pan-blue voting house a decade ago, has only recently seen a surge of support for the DPP due to negligence of infrastructure, Liu said, adding, however, that even if he were elected into office, the county council would be a KMT majority.
It would not be an issue for implementing county policy, Liu said, adding that he was confident he, once elected, could negotiate successfully with the KMT faction in the county council.
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