The KMT has named You Shu Zhen to run as the party's nominee for Hualien
magistrate.

You currently holds the position of Ji-an township chief.

If she is successful in her campaign, she would succeed the wife of former
magistrate Fu Kun Chi, Hsu Chen-wei, who's being term-limited out of office.

Infighting has been fierce for the nomination... You was best supported by
polling, while a county councilor has called the nomination process unfair
and filed lawsuits against the party.

Meanwhile, County Council Speaker Zhang Jun, formerly of the KMT but now
independent, has been quite active in preparing to announce his candidacy
next week.

Zhang gained recognition after he previously staged a protest at a meeting
following the Matai'an disaster in which he kicked the table at which Fu
Kun-chi was sitting.

The DPP has yet to nominate a candidate in that race, but officials say that
they will combine forces within Hualien to oppose the Fu Kun-chi camp, and
say the candidate will be clarified next week.

(AH)