DP to field candidate for new indigenous council seat in Hsinchu

Hsinchu City's upcoming year-end election will feature a newly created indigenous council seat, a development stemming from a revision to the Local Government Act. This addition has intensified competition among political parties vying for representation.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has announced its nomination of Kai-Mai, who serves as the deputy director in the legislative office of legislator Wu Li-hua, to contest this crucial seat. Mayoralty candidate Chuang Ching-cheng and the DPP's 11 other nominated councilor candidates are scheduled to register their candidacies with the election commission on September 3, signaling a unified front for the party.

This newly established indigenous council seat is proving to be a significant battleground. The Kuomintang (KMT) has nominated Lin Hsia-sheng, while the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) has put forward Chao Jo-yun. Additionally, independent candidates Yang Chia-ling and Yun Hsiang have declared their intentions to run, creating a crowded field alongside the DPP's nominee.

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We will nominate Kai-Mai to run.

The revision to the Local Government Act, effective August 2024, allows for the calculation of indigenous council seats in cities and counties without indigenous townships, without affecting existing seats. This change enables Hsinchu City to add one indigenous council seat for the year-end election. Previously, indigenous residents could only vote for general regional councilors and were restricted from voting for plains indigenous councilors. The new system allows for "indigenous voters to vote for indigenous candidates, and plains voters for plains candidates."

Approximately 2,900 indigenous residents live in Hsinchu City, with the Atayal people forming the largest group. Many have settled in the city for work or education, while the Paiwan people are concentrated around the Chianchia Village area. The DPP's Hsinchu mayoral candidate Chuang Ching-cheng's campaign manager and city councilor Liu Kang-yen stated that the DPP candidates, including the 10 nominated councilors and indigenous candidate Kai-Mai, will register together on September 3 to demonstrate party unity. Legislative whip Ker Chien-ming and Chuang Ching-cheng's wife are also expected to accompany them.

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The DPP candidates, including the 10 nominated councilors and indigenous candidate Kai-Mai, will register together on September 3 to demonstrate party unity.