Legislator Chen Chao-ming Setenced for Bribery 涉貪被判刑 傳陳超明有意參選苗縣長

KMT legislator Chen Chao-ming was sentenced to over seven years of jail for receiving bribes from retail tycoon Lee Heng-lung, but it is rumored that Chen still intends to run for Miaoli County magistrate and will use ballots to prove his innocence.

Legislator Chen Chao-ming did not appear at his service office, although it was rumored that he intended to run for Miaoli County Magistrate. He was sentenced on the 6th to seven years and eight months of jail for receiving bribes from former Pacific Distribution Investment Company's chairperson Lee Heng-lung. Chen's assistant said that he was in a chaotic mood. Although he did not explicitly say whether Chen would run for election, he emphasized that Miaoli County residents should make judgments themselves.

Tien Wen-yu, Chen Chao-ming's Assistant: “In fact, there is no such thing as corruption. We must respect all local opinions and voices.”

This incident also cast a shock on Miaoli's election. At present, KMT candidates intending to run including Hsieh Fu-hung, a former director of the Irrigation Agency's Miaoli Office, and Miaoli County Council Speaker Chung Tung-chin, all express their respect. Chung believes Chen has deep local roots, but he will still run for office at his pace and won't stop.

Chung Tung-chin, Miaoli County Council Speaker: “If I really stop my campaign at this time, there is no way for me to live in Miaoli. I'm telling the truth. My campaign can't stop, because there is no way to stop. I can't explain it to my supporters if I stop.”

Hsieh Fu-hung, Miaoli County Magistrate Candidate (KMT): “Coordinating will be a bit of a twist. It takes time to resolve some issues.”

DPP candidate Hsu Ting-chen and NPP candidate Sung Kuo-ting both expressed their respect for Chen's choice. They have their own plans and will actively seek support from the county's residents.

Hsu Ting-chen, Miaoli County Magistrate Candidate (DPP): “We are a united DPP facing off against a divided KMT. This is a super tough constituency for us. After all, the basic blue-green ratio of voters in the county is seven to three.”

Sung Kuo-ting, Miaoli County Magistrate Candidate (NPP): “I have the motivation and ability to run for office. I really have the will to serve Miaoli's residents and I think that's the point.”

The KMT will have three strong candidates if Chen runs for office. The election at the end of the year is getting closer and this is affecting each camp's strategy.

雖然傳出有意參選苗栗縣長，立委陳超明並沒有出現在服務處。6日因為前太流公司負責人李恆隆賄賂案被判刑7年8個月，助理表示陳超明的心情很亂，雖然沒有明說是否參選，但強調要苗栗縣民判斷自己的人格。

陳超明助理田文裕表示：「事實上，就沒有貪汙這個問題，必須尊重地方上所有民意和民眾的聲音。」

這也為苗栗的選情投下震撼，目前藍營有意參選者，包括國民黨提名的前農田水利署苗栗辦事處前處長謝福弘，以及議長鍾東錦都表示給予尊重。鍾東錦認為陳超明地方資歷深厚，但自己還是會照著步調參選到底，也已經停不下來。

苗栗縣議長鍾東錦表示：「如果（這時候）真的停下來，我會沒有辦法在苗栗活下去，我講真的，我的步調是停不下來了，因為沒辦法停了，停下來，對我的支持者也沒辦法交代。」

國民黨苗栗縣長參選人謝福弘表示：「（協調）會有點波折，要時間去化解一些。」

而民進黨提名的徐定禎和時代力量提名的參選人宋國鼎都表示尊重，而自己都有自己的規劃，也會積極尋求鄉親認同。

徐定禎表示：「我們是團結的民進黨對抗分裂的國民黨，超艱困的選區，畢竟藍綠比（基本盤）是73比。」

宋國鼎表示：「參選的動機以及是不是有能力有這個意願，是真正對苗栗縣民來做努力，我覺得這個才是重點。」

如果陳超明參選，藍營將面臨3強鼎立局面，距離年底選戰越來越近，也牽動各陣營選戰布局。