1977 Taiwanese local elections

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1977 Taiwanese local elections
← 1973 19 November 1977 (1977-11-19) 1981 →
All 20 mayors/magistrates of cities, counties
Turnout80.39%
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Chiang Ching-kuo None
Party Kuomintang Independent
Popular vote 4,150,460 1,742,124
Percentage 70.44% 29.56%
Mayors/
Magistrates 		15 4
  Kuomintang
  Independents
  Not up for election (Taipei)

Local elections were held in Taiwan on 19 November 1977, electing 20 magistrates and mayors in the country, 77 members of the Taiwan Provincial Council, and members of the Taipei and Kaohsiung City Council.

Seen as one of the most competitive local polls with crowded field of candidates, the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) was especially focusing on the bitter races in Tainan City, and the counties of Kaohsiung, Nantou, and Taoyuan.

The Kuomintang was accused of rigging the election in Taoyuan after the popular opposition was poised to fend off challenge by KMT's candidate, provoking widespread anger in the county and led to the crackdown on protest, later known as the Zhongli incident.

Provincial election[edit]

PartyVotes%Seats
Kuomintang56
Independents21
Total77
Valid votes5,939,03895.80
Invalid/blank votes260,1804.20
Total votes6,199,218100.00
Registered voters/turnout7,713,73680.37
KMT Ind Turnout (%)
Taipei County 5 2 76.50
Yilan County 1 1 78.13
Taoyuan County 4 1 84.23
Hsinchu County 2 1 82.96
Miaoli County 2 1 78.44
Taichung County 3 2 85.62
Changhua County 4 1 83.42
Nantou County 2 1 79.15
Yunlin County 3 2 75.53
Chiayi County 4 1 75.77
Tainan County 4 1 79.23
Kaohsiung County 4 1 82.47
Pingtung County 3 1 81.72
Taitung County 1 77.27
Hualien County 1 77.46
Penghu County 1 79.04
Keelung City 1 77.12
Taichung City 2 1 81.55
Tainan City 2 1 85.56
Kaohsiung City 3 2 80.94
Plains Indigenous (North) 1 77.39
Plains Indigenous (South) 1 74.40
Mountain Indigenous 2 92.12

Source:[1]

Mayoral and magisterial elections[edit]

Taipei[edit]

Magistrate of Taipei
CandidatePartyVotes%
邵恩新Kuomintang519,09974.76
廖銘義Independent90,49113.03
李歸坵Independent68,7119.90
盧霖Independent16,0232.31
Total694,324100.00
Valid votes694,32496.33
Invalid/blank votes26,4313.67
Total votes720,755100.00
Registered voters/turnout944,43876.32

Keelung[edit]

Mayor of Keelung
CandidatePartyVotes%
陳正雄Kuomintang77,17256.74
張金鐘Independent54,74240.25
陳榮強Independent4,0973.01
Total136,011100.00
Valid votes136,01196.85
Invalid/blank votes4,4273.15
Total votes140,438100.00
Registered voters/turnout182,41676.99

Yilan[edit]

Magistrate of Yilan
CandidatePartyVotes%
李鳳鳴Kuomintang151,93586.61
許仁修Independent23,49613.39
Total175,431100.00
Valid votes175,43196.67
Invalid/blank votes6,0483.33
Total votes181,479100.00
Registered voters/turnout221,59781.90

Taoyuan[edit]

Provincial Councillor Hsu Hsin-liang expressed interest in Taoyuan poll, but was not nominated by the ruling Kuomintang for being critical of the government. Instead the party nominated 歐憲瑜, an official in the Ministry of Judicial Administration. Hsu nevertheless entered the race, and was subsequently expelled from the party a month before voting.[citation needed]

On the voting day, some ballot papers in Zhongli city were damaged by the poll workers. Voters reported to the police but was largely ignored. Worse still, the police escorted the officials. The furious public soon marched to the police station and demanded a recount. The confrontation, later known as Zhongli Incident, resulted in two deaths after being hit by police's bullet and teargas. It was regarded as the first mass demonstration against election manipulation by the authoritarian regime. Hsu was elected with a majority of around 90,000 votes.[citation needed]

Magistrate of Taoyuan
CandidatePartyVotes%
Hsu Hsin-liangIndependent235,94661.48
歐憲瑜Kuomintang147,85138.52
Total383,797100.00
Valid votes383,79797.23
Invalid/blank votes10,9152.77
Total votes394,712100.00
Registered voters/turnout468,95084.17

Hsinchu[edit]

Magistrate of Hsinchu
CandidatePartyVotes%
林保仁Kuomintang243,458100.00
Total243,458100.00
Valid votes243,45886.99
Invalid/blank votes36,42513.01
Total votes279,883100.00
Registered voters/turnout338,61682.65

Miaoli[edit]

Magistrate of Miaoli
CandidatePartyVotes%
邱文光Kuomintang150,22469.25
張榮顯Independent66,70630.75
Total216,930100.00
Valid votes216,93095.81
Invalid/blank votes9,4844.19
Total votes226,414100.00
Registered voters/turnout288,74578.41

Taichung[edit]

Magistrate of Taichung
CandidatePartyVotes%
陳孟鈴Kuomintang242,74064.32
楊順隆Independent134,64035.68
Total377,380100.00
Valid votes377,38092.56
Invalid/blank votes30,3297.44
Total votes407,709100.00
Registered voters/turnout476,22485.61

Chen Tuan-tang, Kuomintang's incumbent Taichung Mayor, faced increasing attack over the bribery and financial mismanagement scandal of the city's government. The local "Chang faction" was also angered by Chen's decision to grant bus franchises, effectively ending the monopoly of transportation. Despite of the local resistance, KMT chose Chen for re-election instead of the candidate from another powerful local tribe of Lai.[2]

For the Tangwai bloc, City Councillor Tzeng Wen-po (曾文坡) was selected after his rival gave way and ran for Provincial Councillor instead.[2]

Tzeng eventually won the election by surprise, with a mere 1,100 votes. The disappointment by the local factions was considered to be the major reason.[2] However, there were accusations of fraud as Tzeng's campaign first anticipated a lead of 10,000 votes, and that the officials delayed the counting of several ballot boxes until Tangwai supporters blocked the city office and the outbreak of Zhongli Incident.[3]

Mayor of Taichung
CandidatePartyVotes%
Tzeng Wen-poIndependent119,61350.22
陳端堂Kuomintang118,57149.78
Total238,184100.00
Valid votes238,18496.72
Invalid/blank votes8,0903.28
Total votes246,274100.00
Registered voters/turnout320,06576.94

Changhua[edit]

Magistrate of Changhua
CandidatePartyVotes%
吳榮興Kuomintang308,33365.25
張春男Independent164,22634.75
Total472,559100.00
Valid votes472,55994.89
Invalid/blank votes25,4715.11
Total votes498,030100.00
Registered voters/turnout597,26083.39

Nantou[edit]

Magistrate of Nantou
CandidatePartyVotes%
劉裕猷Kuomintang207,655100.00
Total207,655100.00
Valid votes207,65594.27
Invalid/blank votes12,6265.73
Total votes220,281100.00
Registered voters/turnout277,59679.35

Yunlin[edit]

Magistrate of Yunlin
CandidatePartyVotes%
林恒生Kuomintang173,68756.97
黃蔴Independent131,16343.03
Total304,850100.00
Valid votes304,85094.90
Invalid/blank votes16,3845.10
Total votes321,234100.00
Registered voters/turnout425,48975.50

Chiayi[edit]

Magistrate of Chiayi
CandidatePartyVotes%
涂德錡Kuomintang221,77467.99
謝明陽Independent104,39332.01
Total326,167100.00
Valid votes326,16795.28
Invalid/blank votes16,1624.72
Total votes342,329100.00
Registered voters/turnout451,62775.80

Tainan[edit]

A total of 13 hopefuls battled for Kuomintang's nomination, the most across the country, which included Yang Pao-fa (楊寶發), a minister in Taipei City administration and Lee Ya-chiao (李雅樵), the Provincial Councillor with the backing of local camps. Although Lee earned more popularity in the grassroots, Yang, a young and loyal party agent, was nominated by the party.[4]

While rumours said Lee and others might try to sabotage Yang's anticipated walkover, he was the only official candidate in the election. With the support from the "mountain faction" and the acquiescence from the "sea faction", Yang faced no significant obstacles and was elected in the unopposed race.[4]

Magistrate of Tainan
CandidatePartyVotes%
Yang Pao-faKuomintang386,738100.00
Total386,738100.00
Valid votes386,73893.46
Invalid/blank votes27,0556.54
Total votes413,793100.00
Registered voters/turnout522,68279.17

Chang Li-tang (張麗堂) secured the party's nomination to run for re-election as Tainan Mayor, while the Tangwai was represented by Su Nan-cheng, stagging a re-run of the last election.[5]

Su was also supported by 蔡介雄, a Provincial Councillor who was no longer acquiesced his campaign for another term by the party because of his strong stance on social issues and as a tactic to split the opposition's vote.[6][7] Branded "democracy fighter", 蔡介雄 ran for re-election and backed Su in mayoral election. The two rallied for government-friendly and anti-KMT's support respectively.[2]

During the canvassing, KMT's local branch denounced Su as a separatist and communist, which was rebuked by the leading candidate and strengthened the anti-government sentiments.[2] The one-party authorities also called on the soldier to vote for party's candidate.[8]

Chang's team believed the victory is secured, but as vote counting progressed, the lead by Su became clearer. However sudden blackouts were reported in a dozen of voting booths with counting slowed down, a common practice for rigging the election. With the growing fury by the public, the power supply and vote counting later resumed, and Su's advantageous position was maintained.[2] Su later said he resolutely demanded the authorities to abide the law and continue the vote counting, or face whatever consequences that may happen.[9]

Mayor of Tainan
CandidatePartyVotes%
Su Nan-chengIndependent131,50453.65
Chang Li-tangKuomintang113,62746.35
Total245,131100.00
Valid votes245,13197.63
Invalid/blank votes5,9402.37
Total votes251,071100.00
Registered voters/turnout293,47685.55

Kaohsiung[edit]

Early results showed the election was too close to call with the independent 黃友仁 leading with around 4,000 votes only. As Kuomintang stronghold started counting the ballots, the Tangwai believed the defeat is imminent. Still, supporters of the opposition travelled to the stronghold to supervise the vote count to avoid any electoral fraud.[9] At the end 黃友仁 beat Kuomintang with less than 2,000 votes, which prominent opposition figure Yu Teng-fa said the supervising was critical as it prevented the authorities from stuffing KMT's ballots.[10] Yu also believed the majority should be much larger, at 60,000-some votes.[9]

Magistrate of Kaohsiung
CandidatePartyVotes%
黃友仁Independent204,78250.33
王正和Kuomintang202,11649.67
Total406,898100.00
Valid votes406,89896.38
Invalid/blank votes15,2773.62
Total votes422,175100.00
Registered voters/turnout511,90582.47

In the city of Kaohsiung, the incumbent 王玉雲 had his majority shrunk from more than ten thousand to around 4,000, most of those are from the strongholds such as relatives of soldier and civil servants.[2]

Mayor of Kaohsiung
CandidatePartyVotes%
王玉雲Kuomintang236,98455.30
洪照男Independent191,59144.70
Total428,575100.00
Valid votes428,57597.16
Invalid/blank votes12,5342.84
Total votes441,109100.00
Registered voters/turnout545,55580.86

Pingtung[edit]

Magistrate of Pingtung
CandidatePartyVotes%
柯文福Kuomintang354,231100.00
Total354,231100.00
Valid votes354,23192.84
Invalid/blank votes27,3377.16
Total votes381,568100.00
Registered voters/turnout464,38282.17

Taitung[edit]

Magistrate of Taitung
CandidatePartyVotes%
Chiang Sheng-aiKuomintang107,865100.00
Total107,865100.00
Valid votes107,86595.27
Invalid/blank votes5,3554.73
Total votes113,220100.00
Registered voters/turnout145,29677.92

Hualian[edit]

Magistrate of Hualian
CandidatePartyVotes%
吳水雲Kuomintang143,353100.00
Total143,353100.00
Valid votes143,35396.39
Invalid/blank votes5,3743.61
Total votes148,727100.00
Registered voters/turnout187,96979.12

Penghu[edit]

Kuomintang Central Committee nominated 謝有溫 rather than a party official who was endorsed by the local party and the headquarter's nomination committee, after the Chief of Staff favoured 謝有溫 from the military due to the strategic location of Penghu.[11]

Magistrate of Taitung
CandidatePartyVotes%
謝有溫Kuomintang43,047100.00
Total43,047100.00
Valid votes43,04794.92
Invalid/blank votes2,3035.08
Total votes45,350100.00
Registered voters/turnout57,36179.06

Source:[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b 中華民國選舉概況. 中央選舉委員會. 1984.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g 泰石. 《選壇風雲《中南部》》. 長橋出版社. 1978年1月.
  3. ^ 黃煌雄. 《國民黨往何處去？》. 長橋出版社. 1978年11月.
  4. ^ a b 陳延輝、蕭晉源. 《台南縣派系興起與政黨政治的確立》. 秀威資訊科技. 2005. ISBN 978-986-7263-26-1.
  5. ^ 林森榮. 《續修台南市志卷七選舉志 市長市議員選舉篇》. 臺南市政府. 1996年6月.
  6. ^ 許春風發行. 《運河脈動－蔡介雄評傳》. 嘉鴻出版社. 1985年10月.
  7. ^ 張國堂. 《打拼為台灣 30年來民主運動在府城－關懷與期盼》. 1995年4月.
  8. ^ 林瑞明日記，1977年11月17日。收於林瑞明，《少尉的兩個世界》，臺南：臺南市文化中心，1995年4月發行。頁22
  9. ^ a b c 周平德，〈選舉不公平不公正不公開〉，收於《講沒完的政見》，臺北：拓荒者出版社。1979年10月初版。頁115-116
  10. ^ 彭瑞金，《臺灣野生的政治家——余登發》，臺北：時報出版。2000年4月3日初版四刷。頁107。
  11. ^ 蔡明惠. 〈民主轉型中的澎湖地方政治生態〉 (PDF). 《選舉研究》. 2004-11,. 第十一卷第二期: 頁133–162 [2023-01-26]. （原始內容存檔 (PDF)於2023-01-26）.
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