After an extraordinary committee meeting, the KMT's election commission in Taichung yesterday decided to accept KMT Deputy Secretary-General Jason Hu's (胡志強) application to run for Taichung City mayor, putting an end to a dispute over his candidacy.
On Thursday Hu had faced the possibility of being disqualified as a candidate in Taichung because Chuang Lung-chang (
The dual registration nearly caused Hu's candidacy in Tai-chung to be declared invalid, even though he had stated his intention to withdraw his application in Taipei County.
On learning that he had been accepted as a candidate in Tai-chung, Hu said he was pleased.
"I am sorry for causing such unnecessary trouble. I thank the residents of both Taichung City and Taipei County for their warmest support. I will do my best here in Taichung," Hu said in Taichung.
He said that he had been determined to run for the mayor's job from the very beginning and that he hoped the dispute would not tarnish his image.
KMT Chairman Lien Chan
Lin Jih-jia (
A local media organization reported yesterday that Hu had met privately with Lien yesterday morning to seek his approval and understanding.
Refusing to confirm such a meeting took place, KMT spokeswoman Chen Feng-shin (
Hu's inconsistency, however, is expected to have a negative impact on his campaign in Taichung.
"Whatever the impact will be, Hu has to shoulder the responsibility himself," said party secretary-general Lin Feng-cheng (
Media reports yesterday speculated that the KMT and People First Party (PFP) had reached a deal to cooperate with each other by supporting a PFP candidate in Taichung. Hu's insistence on running in Taichung had, the speculation suggested, ruined the deal and led to his dual registration.
Chao Shou-po (
"In terms of bipartisan cooperation, the KMT has not reached out to the PFP for any type of contacts," Chao said.
After Hu's candidacy is finalized, he will compete in a primary with other candidates in Taichung City including legislators Huang Hsien-chou (黃顯洲), Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) and speaker of the Taichung City Council Chang-Lao Kuei-chuan (張廖貴專).
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