Tainan Mayoral Election Heats Up

UNCLAS TAIPEI 003900 SIPDIS DEPT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON DEPT FOR EAP/TC, INR/EAP FROM AIT KAOHSIUNG BRANCH OFFICE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL TW SUBJECT: Tainan Mayoral Election Heats Up Ref: TAIPEI ¶1. The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) party announced it will nominate Chien-Lin Hui-chun to run for Tainan Mayor in the upcoming mayoral election. Chien-Lin is a Policy Advisor to the Presidential Office and Chief of TSU's party office in Tainan City. She served as Tainan City Legislative Yuan (LY) member 2001-2004, but failed in her 2004 re-election bid. She attributed her 2004 loss to the DPP's election campaign strategy, which helped all DPP candidates get elected but squeezed out pan-green and DPP-allied TSU candidates. ¶2. Chien-Lin's nomination has shocked the heretofore- complacent local DPP organization and should affect the re- election prospects of incumbent DPP Mayor Hsu Tain-tsair. Chien-Lin stated her supporters encouraged her to run because they were upset with the current administration's performance. She also stated that former President Lee Teng- hui is pleased with her decision to run. To criticism from some DPP members accusing her of splitting the pan-green camp, she rejoined that Tainan City residents should have the chance to make their own choice. ¶3. DPP Tainan City headquarters officials said they will continue seeking cooperation with the TSU. Incumbent DPP Tainan Mayor Hsu Tain-tsair and KMT mayoral candidate Lin Jung-sheng both announced that they welcome Chien Lin to join the race and hope for a fair election. ¶4. In response to TSU's nominating Chien-Lin Hui-chun for the Tainan mayoral election, the strongly independent Southern Taiwan Association, expressed concern that two pan- green candidates might undermine pan-green election prospects. The Association is urging the pan-green camp to cooperate and nominate only one candidate, offering to mediate between TSU and DPP officials to seek a solution to this standoff. THIELE KEEGAN