Kaohsiung County Commissioner Yang Chiu-hsing (楊秋興) yesterday officially launched his election bid for Greater Kaohsiung mayor, a move seen as intensifying a crisis for the opposition party in a traditionally pan-green stronghold.
Yang, who lost the DPP primary in May, launched his campaign in the afternoon, telling dozens of supporters it was his “duty and responsibility” to run as an independent for mayor of Greater Kaohsiung.
“It's a very conflicting decision for me, but now I have made up my mind,” he said. “I have been asked to run by business and religious figures as well as local residents who worry about Kaohsiung falling behind. I have the determination and will to make this city a better place.”
PHOTO: HUANG CHIH-YUAN, TAIPEI TIMES
However, more than a dozen consultants with the Kaohsiung County Government resigned in protest upon learning of Yang's decision, saying they could no longer support Yang because the move went against Taiwan's interests and popular opinion.
“How could Yang make this decision when Taiwan's fate hangs in this critical [election],” said a statement signed by 13 senior consultants, including doctors, pro-independence stalwarts, a university president, a company chief executive and a radio producer.
All 13 had been handpicked by Yang, sources close to the county government said. Representatives from the group said more resignations were expected.
The group said Yang's decision gave a black eye to his political credibility because he had vowed to support the eventual winner during the party primaries. They heavily criticized his announcement, adding that it was fraught with “questionable excuses” and was unconvincing.
Their disapproval will undoubtedly come as a setback for Yang, who said during the announcement that he hoped to rise above cross-party politics and gather widespread local support.
“It's been detrimental for Taiwan to have the pan-blue and pan-green camps in constant election battles for the past decades. I'm running as an independent to try and appeal to the greatest public interest,” he told the press conference.
Asked whether he would seek support from the smaller opposition Taiwan Solidarity Union, Yang said that while he would not join any political party, he also wouldn't reject offers of support from other political figures or parties.
Initial hopes that Yang could maintain good relations with Kaohsiung County Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) councilors — many of whom had worked with him for the past nine years — appeared to have been quashed last night after DPP caucus whip Chang Han-chung (張漢忠) said Yang's decision was “truly regrettable.”
Speaking for the other county councilors, Chang said in a statement after the press conference that they “respected Yang's decision ... but it was something that no one wanted to see happen.”
Hinting that losing councilors' backing could take away Yang's grassroots base, Chang said the commissioner's political successes stemmed from the continued support of villagers and other local forces, people who were bound to be upset by his announcement.
During his press conference, Yang repeatedly said he wanted to turn Greater Kaohsiung into a “second Singapore,” adding that he would revive the region's economy, improve living standards and keep local professionals from leaving Kaohsiung.
Born to a farming family in Kaohsiung County, the 54-year-old former engineer also appealed to local sympathies, calling himself “a local boy.”
“They [other mayors] leave right after their term is up,” he said. “This is why I'm imploring the public to give me, a local boy, a chance.”
His announcement immediately touched off a storm of controversy because his very public break with both Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) and the DPP, a party that was his home for the past three decades, became official after weeks of speculation.
Chen, the DPP's candidate for Greater Kaohsiung mayor, beat Yang during the primaries by an 18 percent margin. Kaohsiung County will be merged with the city by the end of the year, creating the newly named municipality.
Sources close to Yang said it was unlikely he would back down despite DPP officials privately expressing optimism that he would change his mind before registering as a candidate next month.
Yang's entry into the race will turn the elections in Greater Kaohsiung into a three-way race with Chen and long-term Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Huang Chao-shun (黃昭順). The vote will take place on Nov. 27.
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