Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidates held their seats as they won by wide margins in the south, retaining Chiayi and Pingtung counties yesterday, while Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chiayi Mayor Huang Min-hui (黃敏惠) held on to her seat in Chiayi City.
The DPP’s candidate in Chiayi County, Chang Hwa-kuan (張花冠), garnered 177,333 votes, compared with 128,973 votes for KMT rival Wong Chung-chun (翁重鈞), ending a tightly fought campaign in which both parties had accused each other of fraud in the past few weeks.
“I want to thank the people of Chiayi for standing by me and fending off the baseless [allegations] of corruption,” Chang told supporters at a packed election night gathering at her campaign headquarters.
She reaffirmed a decision earlier this week to resign her legislative post to vie for the seat that will be left vacant by incumbent DPP Chiayi Commissioner Chen Ming-wen (陳明文). Chen was previously detained by prosecutors, which sparked KMT accusations of corruption. He denied the allegations.
“I promise to fulfill my election promises ... which will safeguard the interests of [Chiayi] and the entire nation,” Chang said of her election pledges to initiate large-scale agricultural investments and regional integration, and to oppose an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China, which she described as a danger to the county’s burgeoning agricultural industry.
CHIAYI CITY
In Chiayi City, the KMT’s Huang staved off a close challenge by former Department of Health minister Twu Shiing-jer (涂醒哲) despite last-ditch attempts by DPP caucus whip Chai Trong-rong (蔡同榮) to sway voters on Friday.
Results between the two candidates remained close throughout most of last night, with Huang only assuming a comfortable lead as the final poll results were released 69,962 votes to 61,268 votes — continuing KMT control in what was a stronghold for independent candidates dating back to 1982.
“The public has shown their confidence in me and my administration ... together we will make the [next four years] even better,” said Huang, who vowed to continue policies such as improvements in infrastructure, educational programs and the city’s investment environment.
Huang did not comment on a Chiayi District Prosecutors’ Office probe into advertisements authorized by Twu accusing her of graft.
PINGTUNG COUNTY
In Pingtung County, incumbent DPP Commissioner Tsao Chi-hung (曹啟鴻) fought off allegations made by his KMT opponent Chou Dian-lun (周典論) that he failed to give subsidies to victims in a reasonable amount of time in the wake of Typhoon Morakot.
“We will overcome these [challenges] ... our county will become better,” Tsao said as he thanked supporters who widened his lead to 59.33 percent of the popular vote from 46.2 percent in 2005.
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