By KHT Staff
KAOHSIUNG — Hung Fang-lung (洪方隆), founder of Ivy Telecommunication Services, registered as an independent in the Kaohsiung mayoral election on Friday, Sept. 4, becoming the fifth person reported to have filed, according to the China Times.
The filing does not yet make the registrants official candidates. The Central Election Commission scheduled registration from Aug. 31 through Sept. 4, with applications to be reviewed by Oct. 16. The official mayoral candidate list is scheduled to be announced Nov. 12.
Hung said he entered the race because Kaohsiung and Taiwan face seven broad problems: political conflict, fraud, low wages, flooding and environmental concerns, food safety, a declining birth rate, and what he described as excessive partisanship in the judiciary, legislature and civil service.
He argued that politicians often make extensive promises during campaigns but face little accountability if those pledges are not fulfilled after taking office.
Hung proposed requiring candidates to attach clear, measurable targets to policies covering issues such as wages, flooding and food safety. He said that if elected mayor, he would set a two-year review point for his administration.
If the promised targets were not met, Hung said he should accept political responsibility, including the possibility of resigning.
As of the China Times update Friday afternoon, the other four mayoral registrants were Judicial Revolution Party Chair Chang Ching (張靜), Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆), independent Wang Chao-min (王肇民) and Kuomintang candidate Ko Chih-en (柯志恩).
Taiwan’s local elections are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 28.
