Daughter of Sanitation Worker: Hualien County Magistrate Candidate Yu Shu-Chen Leads Poll with 30.1% Support

Storm Media's polling center conducted a survey on the Hualien County magistrate election from July 21 to 23. Currently, three candidates are running: Yu Shu-Chen of the Kuomintang, Wei Chia-Hsien as an independent, and Chang Chun as an independent. The poll results show Yu Shu-Chen in the lead with 30.1% support, followed by Wei Chia-Hsien at 22.1% and Chang Chun at 12.5%. Meanwhile, 6.0% said they would not vote or cast blank ballots, and 29.2% did not give a clear answer.

Yu Shu-Chen is currently the mayor of Ji'an Township in Hualien County. Her father was a sanitation worker in Guanshan Township, Taitung County, and their home was extremely poor, with many holes in the walls. From a young age, Yu studied diligently, consistently ranking at the top of her class. She covered the wall holes with her award certificates. At age 14, she moved to Hualien to attend middle school, eventually graduating from National Hualien University of Education. After graduation, she spent 32 years running early childhood education programs. She then advanced from township representative to county councilor, and is now serving as Ji'an Township mayor. Known for tirelessly visiting local communities day and night, she is nicknamed the "Iron Woman Mayor."

Yu said, "I've come from hardship since childhood. That's why I have many dreams for Hualien."

The Hualien County magistrate election is a key indicator in local elections and a primary target for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to gain ground. To boost Yu Shu-Chen's momentum, the Kuomintang held a large-scale unity rally titled "Social Welfare Hualien, Prosperous and Flourishing" on the morning of July 26 at the Zhongzheng Sports Center in Hualien City. Led by party chair Jennifer Wang, Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, and legislator Fu Kun-chi, the event was supported by 20 legislators including Cheng Tien-tsai, Wang Hung-wei, and Hsieh Lung-chieh.

The poll used Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI), completing 1,068 valid interviews. At a 95% confidence level, the maximum sampling error is ±3.0%.