Will Wang Hui-mei Lead Wei Ping-cheng’s Campaign? Changhua Figures Suggest an Alternative

The Kuomintang has yet to settle on a campaign chief for Changhua county magistrate candidate Wei Ping-cheng, and local politicians are weighing an alternative to the county’s most prominent figure.

Changhua County Magistrate Wang Hui-mei has previously indicated that she does not want to chair Wei’s campaign headquarters. County party chief Hsiao Ching-tien nevertheless said the party had not considered anyone else and would continue waiting for Wang’s decision.

Local figures have proposed asking a heavyweight to persuade Wang, while others have suggested County Council Speaker Hsieh Tien-lin. Changhua’s two political heavyweights are generally understood to be the county magistrate and the council speaker.

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We have not considered a second choice! We will continue waiting for County Magistrate Wang Hui-mei.

Wang spent 10 days visiting Europe and was expected to return on Sept. 2. Wei planned to register his candidacy on Sept. 3, while the Changhua party branch invited Wang to accompany him. Hsiao said he had not received a response. Wei’s campaign headquarters was scheduled to be established on Sept. 6, leaving open the question of whether Wang would attend even if she declined the chairmanship.

Local politicians have described Wang as an “undefeated queen”, citing her record of winning every election in which she has run. They argue that a defeat for Wei could damage her reputation and make her reluctant to take the post.

Hsieh has served as council speaker for four and a half terms and was nominated by the Kuomintang. Supporters say he has a responsibility to help Wei and is one of the candidate’s strongest political backers. They argue that giving Hsieh a senior campaign role could help integrate local political forces. The article cited former speaker Pai Hung-sen’s appointment as general chairman of Ma Ying-jeou and Siew Wan-chang’s Changhua campaign headquarters during the 2008 presidential election as a precedent.

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Wang Hui-mei will not take the chairmanship. Does that mean the speaker, who has served four and a half terms in the same party, has lower social standing than the county magistrate?