TAIPEI: Campaigning for Taiwan's county magistrate and city mayoral elections officially kicks off today.

According to an election bulletin issued by the Central Election Commission (CEC) yesterday, 54 candidates will vie for the offices of mayor or magistrates in 17 of Taiwan's 25 cities and counties in the elections scheduled for December 5.

Another 938 candidates will compete for the offices of township chiefs, and city and county councilors in the 17 cities and counties.

Seven other cities and counties - Taipei County, Taichung City and County, Tainan City and County, Kaohsiung City and County - will be upgraded or merged into municipalities and hold elections for local leaders along with Taipei City next year.

A by-election for a vacant legislative seat representing the Nantou County constituency in central Taiwan will also be held on December 5. The legislative vacancy was left by former legislator Wu Den-yih, who was named chief of the Executive Yuan by Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou in a major government reshuffle in September.

Election campaign activities will be allowed between 7 am and 10 pm every day from today through November 4, the CEC said.

Meanwhile, according to a draft amendment to the Local Government Law, which was approved by the Executive Yuan, the tenure of the city and county chiefs to be elected in the December 5 elections will be extended for an additional one year and five days to coincide with the elections of heads of the municipalities in 2014. The amendment has yet to pass the legislative floor.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 11/25/2009 page2)