Hsiao Ching-tien returns as KMT Changhua Party Chairman; Hsieh Yi-feng rejects Deputy Secretary-General post

Li Che-hua, chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) Organizational Development Committee, said this morning that the Changhua section would be nominated by the committee, without primaries or coordinated public opinion surveys. To facilitate subsequent nomination procedures, Hsieh Yi-feng would be promoted to KMT Deputy Secretary-General, and Hsiao Ching-tien would be invited to serve as the chairman of the Changhua County Party Headquarters.

Hsiao Ching-tien told Central News Agency reporters that he would take office tomorrow, and the nominee would be announced by the party headquarters. Although the candidate has not yet been determined, he must prepare for battle and election preparations in advance.

However, Hsieh Yi-feng stated on social media Facebook, "I have not given up, and I will fight to the last minute." She still hopes to contend for the opportunity to represent the KMT and continue its governance in Changhua under the party headquarters' nomination rules, and she also hopes for a turnaround after KMT Chairman Cheng Li-wen returns from her exchange visit to Taiwan.

She said that as a member of the KMT, she respects the party headquarters' arrangements for personnel changes and will step down from her position as chairman of the Changhua County Party Headquarters, but she will not accept the position of Deputy Secretary-General to avoid reinforcing the narrative of a quid pro quo withdrawal. She also hopes that the party headquarters can reserve important personnel arrangements for outstanding comrades who truly need a platform.

In addition to Hsieh Yi-feng, Hung Jung-chang, CEO of the Changhua County Industrial Development and Investment Promotion Committee, and Ko Cheng-fang, a counselor at the Changhua County Government, are also vying for the KMT's nomination for Changhua County Magistrate. Ko Cheng-fang said that he only learned today that the nomination would be made by invitation, but the delay has caused the grassroots nomination and preparation work to stagnate, making the local area quite anxious.

He said that the key to the election is "whether we can win," not who can manipulate it. Changhua needs someone who has long cultivated the local area and understands grassroots needs, not someone temporarily brought in. He will continue to prepare and be ready to go at any time, calling on the party headquarters to make a decision as soon as possible so that the local team can set off early, unite forces, and fully defend Changhua.

Hung Jung-chang stated that nominees must be tested by public opinion and consider their suitability and connection to the local area; otherwise, it will be difficult to build consensus. Elections are about winning, not just nominating for the sake of nominating. He hopes the party headquarters will consider this carefully.

Lawyer Wei Ping-cheng, who was recommended by Hsiao Ching-tien to the party headquarters for nomination, said that whether it is a primary or an invitation is the party headquarters' authority, and he respects it. If he is nominated, he will go all out to win the election for the KMT. If someone else is nominated, he will fully assist in the campaign and strive for the KMT to achieve the greatest victory. "The KMT's victory is the most important." (Edited by: Li Ming-tsung) 1150407