2007 Keelung mayoral by-election explained

Election Name:2007 Keelung mayoral by-election
Country:Taiwan
Type:by-election
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2005–06 Taiwanese local elections
Previous Year:2005
Next Election:2009 Taiwanese local elections
Next Year:2009
Image1:Zhang Tung-Rong(cropped).jpg
Nominee1:Chang Tong-rong
Party1:Kuomintang
Popular Vote1:56,115
Percentage1:47.44%
Nominee2:Liu Wen-hsiung
Party2:Independent politician
Popular Vote2:33,956
Percentage2:28.71%
Nominee3:Shih Shih-ming
Party3:Democratic Progressive Party
Popular Vote3:26,908
Percentage3:22.75%
Nominee4:Chang Tung-hsien
Party4:Independent politician
Popular Vote4:1,105
Percentage4:0.93%
Nominee5:Chang Chao-chung
Party5:Independent politician
Popular Vote5:206
Percentage5:0.17%
Mayor
After Election:Chang Tong-rong
Before Party:Democratic Progressive Party
After Party:Kuomintang

2007 Keelung mayoral by-election was held on 12 May 2007, three months after the death of incumbent mayor Hsu Tsai-li. Chang Tong-rong from the Kuomintang (KMT) defeated the other four candidates and held the mayorship for the party with 47% of votes.[1]

Background

One of the strongholds of Kuomintang, Keelung had been led by Hsu Tsai-li since 2001 after re-elected in 2005. However, Hsu was sentenced to 7 years in jail for corruption in 2006. Although resisting pressure for his resignation, Hsu was expelled from the party and recall petition was gaining momentum.

On 19 February 2007, Hsu died suddenly of blood poisoning, aged 60.[2] A by-election was therefore triggered to elect a new mayor for the remaining two-year term of office.[3] Hsu Ching-kun, Secretary General of the Government, became acting mayor, followed by appointment by Ministry of the Interior of former deputy mayor Chen Chong-guan as another acting mayor.[4]

Candidates

Chang Tong-rong, Speaker of Keelung City Council and long-time City Councillor, was endorsed by the KMT after winning the opinion poll of the party. However, the split within the Pan-Blue Coalition and the failed co-operation between the Kuomintang and People First Party (PFP) prompted Liu Wen-hsiung, PFP member of the Legislative Yuan, to run as an independent.

Another City Councillor Shih Shih-ming represented Democratic Progressive Party, then the ruling party in the central government, in the election, and was backed by party seniors including Chen Shui-bian, Frank Hsieh, and Su Tseng-chang during the campaign.[5]

Two other independents ran in the election also.

Notes and References

  1. News: 基市長補選 張通榮勝出. Liberty Times. 2007-05-13. 2008-03-24. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090309125428/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2007/new/may/13/today-p2.htm. 2009-03-09.
  2. Web site: 許財利病逝 享年六十歲 . 2023-04-08 . CTS. zh-TW.
  3. Web site: 2007-02-20 . 許財利驟逝 基市長512補選 - 焦點 . 2023-04-08 . Liberty Times. zh-TW.
  4. News: UDN. 2007-02-26. 陳重光將代理基隆市長 3月上任.
  5. News: 張. 謙俊. 施世明、張通賢登記參選. China Times. 2007-03-22. C2.