Former Hualien City mayor Wei Chia-hsien (魏嘉賢) on Sunday declared his candidacy for county commissioner, joining several pan-blue camp figures seeking to end Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Fu Kun-chi’s (傅崐萁) more than two decades of political dominance in the county.
Wei, an independent Hualien County councilor since 2022, was previously affiliated with the KMT as a county councilor from 2005 to 2016, when he won a by-election for the mayor seat, which he again secured in 2018.
His parents also previously served as county councilors as members of the KMT, while his uncle was mayor of Hualien from 1986 to 1994.
Photo:Screen grab from Wei Chia-hsien’s Facebook page
In announcing his candidacy, Wei said the county needed strong leadership and guidance in times of crisis, referring to floods and earthquakes that have devastated the county in the past few years.
“Hualien is at a critical juncture, where it must re-examine its resources to revitalize the economy and take care of its residents,” he said.
Hualien County Council Speaker Chang Chun (張峻), another KMT stalwart, is also expected to enter the commissioner race in the Nov. 28 nine-in-one local elections. Campaign billboards featuring Chang have been erected across the county.
Wei and Chang last year voiced their support for a recall campaign against Fu, a fixture in the county government for decades.
Former Hualien City mayor Yeh Yao-hui (葉耀輝) and media personality Ho Chi-sheng (何啟聖), both KMT members, have also declared their intention to run for the county commissioner post, as candidates prepare fundraising and canvassing campaigns. Yeh and Ho have also voiced their opposition to Fu.
Fu rose to prominence in Hualien politics when he was elected to the legislature in 2001, before serving two terms as a county commissioner.
After taking office as commissioner, Fu on Dec. 20, 2009, appointed his then-ex wife and current Hualien County Commissioner Hsu Chen-wei (徐榛蔚) as deputy county commissioner, two days after they divorced. The appointment was withdrawn on Dec. 22.
Hsu, who remarried Fu in 2016, served two years in the legislature before she in 2018 was elected commissioner. Hsu cannot run again as she has already served two terms.
She and Fu are believed to be seeking to extend their political dynasty by nominating Jian Township (吉安) Mayor Yu Shu-chen (游淑貞) for commissioner. Yu, who would vie for the KMT nomination through its local primary, is seen as being a part of the couple’s inner circle.
Ho in an interview said that Fu and Hsu have a stranglehold over Hualien County, monopolizing political power and resources, which has hindered the county’s development and tarnished the KMT’s image in the region.
For the past 23 years, Fu and Hsu have locked up political power in the county, trading seats in the legislature and the commissioner post, Ho said.
“Now they want to hold on to power by having Yu ‘inherit’ the family’s political power, so Fu can continue to rule as ‘King of Hualien,’” he said. “That would seriously damage Taiwan’s democratic system and the KMT’s reputation.”
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