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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Elections & Politics

“Balloon Brother” candidate uses free balloon art and lessons to win family votes

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • Taichung North屯 district council candidate Chen Hsin-hsiu campaigned as “Balloon Brother,” teaching children and parents how to make balloon animals and swords.
  • Chen said he learned balloon art in high school and now carries balloons to community events and gives creations to children.
  • He is seeking the Democratic Progressive Party’s third council seat in Beitun, which will gain an additional seat this election.

Campaigning for office does not always mean shaking hands or handing out leaflets. In Taichung’s Beitun District, council candidate Chen Hsin-hsiu has turned balloon art into his campaign tool, appearing as “Balloon Brother” at a community class for children and parents.

At the invitation of Pingxing Village chief Huang Chang-kuo, Chen demonstrated the process step by step. He showed participants how to inflate the balloons, taught basic twisting techniques, and helped families turn long balloons into dogs, swords, and other shapes. Children followed along as he worked, while laughter filled the community event.

Chen, 30, said he joined a balloon club by chance in high school and continued developing the skill. He later organized classmates to decorate school events. Today, he carries balloons when visiting local neighborhoods and makes them on the spot for children. On weekends, he also visits parks, where children can choose the shapes they like.

“Balloons are actually very simple, but they can get everyone making things and laughing together,” Chen said. He has recently worked with village chiefs and communities to offer balloon classes, saying he wants to bring his interest and skills into neighborhoods and interact naturally with residents of different ages, rather than simply visiting to solicit votes.

Chen also canvassed at Jingu Market in Beitun with Huang Shou-ta. Huang recalled that he was the youngest council candidate in his district when he first ran at age 30. He gave Chen the “Little Bee” campaign vehicle he used in that first race, describing the handover as a continuation of their commitment to serving the community. Chen said Beitun is Taichung’s most populous administrative district and that the election will add one council seat. He is seeking the DPP’s third seat, which he said would give the party caucus greater strength in the council.

Balloons are actually very simple, but they can get everyone making things and laughing together.

· Chen Hsin-hsiuHe explained why he uses balloon-making activities to connect with residents and families.
About this summary

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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