Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) yesterday met members of Yunlin’s local party factions in an effort to finalize the selection of the KMT candidate for the Yunlin County commissioner election.
KMT Secretary-General Chan Chun-po (詹春柏) meanwhile flew to Hualien to discuss the situation with party members after Hualien County Deputy Commissioner Chang Chi-ming (張志明) withdrew from the party to run in the election as an independent.
Wu yesterday met members of six party factions to determine a new candidate after Chang Li-shan (張麗善) withdrew her candidacy on Monday.
PHOTO: CNA
KMT Yunlin branch director Hsu Su-po (?? and Wu Wei-chih (吳威志), a professor at National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, are among the party’s preferred candidates to replace Chang Li-shan.
KMT spokesman Lee Chien-jung (李建榮) said Wu had met several local politicians and party members — including Chang Li-shan’s brother, former Yunlin County commissioner Chang Jung-wei (張榮味) — over the past few days to gauge opinion before finalizing the candidate.
Chang Jung-wei was an influential factional leader in Yunlin, but the candidate he backed for the Yunlin legislative by-election, Chang Ken-hui (張艮輝), lost the poll to Democratic Progressive Party rival Liu Chien-kuo (劉建國).
Chan, meanwhile, met local politicians in Hualien yesterday.
Hualien County Commissioner Hsieh Shen-shan (謝深山), who is reportedly supporting Chang Chi-ming, was not present for Chan’s stop at county government offices.
Chan said he would discuss the situation with Chang Chi-ming and seek his support for the party’s nominee, Tu Li-hua (杜麗華).
KMT Legislator Fu Kun-chi (傅崑萁), who was barred by the KMT from taking part in the primary because he was found guilty in his first and second trials in two cases, is likely to run for commissioner as well.
Chan said the party would deal with Fu according to party regulations if he joined the election.
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