1957 Taiwanese local elections

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1957 Taiwanese local elections
Flag of the Republic of China.svg
  1954 21 April 1957 (1957-04-21) 1960  

All 21 mayors/magistrates of cities, counties
 Majority partyMinority party
  Jiang Zhong Zheng Zong Tong Yu Zhao .png
Leader Chiang Kai-shek None
Party Kuomintang Independent
Percentage65.38%34.62%
SwingDecrease2.svg3.47pp Increase2.svg3.47pp
Mayors/
Magistrates
201
ChangeIncrease2.svg1Decrease2.svg1

1957ROCCounty.svg
  Kuomintang
  Independents
  Not up for election (Yangmingshan, Fuchien)

Local elections were held in Taiwan on 21 April 1957, the third nation-wide elections in post-war Taiwan, electing all 21 mayors of cities and magistrates of counties with a three-year tenure. Fuchien Province, then under military administration, was not up for election. Election for Provisional Taiwan Provincial Council was held alongside the local elections to elect 66 councillors.

Contents

The ruling Kuomintang (or nationalist, KMT) retained control of 20 administrative divisions, flipping two from Tangwai movement, leaving the opposition with Tainan City only after defeating the nationalist candidate. Widespread election frauds were reported, while the struggle between local factions in different regions continued.

Summary

The list below shows the statistics of party membership of candidates standing in the election. Coloured box refers to the party membership of elected mayor or magistrate.

KMT CDSP Youth Ind
Taipei County 1
Taipei City 12
Keelung City 11
Yilan County 11
Taoyuan County 11
Hsinchu County 11
Miaoli County 11
Taichung County 11
Taichung City 11
Changhua County 11
Nantou County 11
Yunlin County 11
Chiayi County 11
Tainan County 11
Tainan City 11
Kaohsiung County 11
Kaohsiung City 11
Pingtung County 1
Hualien County 11
Taitung County 11
Penghu County 1

Detailed results

Taipei

Magistrate of Taipei
CandidatePartyVotes%
戴德發 Kuomintang 229,413100.00
Total229,413100.00
Valid votes229,41394.79
Invalid/blank votes12,6065.21
Total votes242,019100.00
Registered voters/turnout362,84966.70
Source: [1]

Seeking re-election, Mayor Henry Kao stood against KMT-nominated Huang Chi-jui (黃啟瑞). According to students of National Taiwan Normal University, only Huang was invited to give a speech. [2]

During vote counting, multiple electricity outage fueled suspicions over election fraud, and the number of invalid ballots reached 8,000, nearly all were in favour of Kao. [3]

As a result, Huang captured the capital for the ruling party with around 59% of valid votes. Kao responded with "gentleman doesn't care about results as justice shall prevail", "I rather lose with honour than win with disgrace". [4]

Mayor of Taipei
CandidatePartyVotes%
Huang Chi-jui Kuomintang 176,23858.88
Henry Kao Independent121,50840.60
林清安Independent1,5590.52
Total299,305100.00
Valid votes299,30597.28
Invalid/blank votes8,3632.72
Total votes307,668100.00
Registered voters/turnout376,87081.64
Source: [5]

Keelung

Mayor of Keelung
CandidatePartyVotes%
謝貫一 Kuomintang 38,61373.56
諸寶恆Independent13,88226.44
Total52,495100.00
Valid votes52,49592.05
Invalid/blank votes4,5347.95
Total votes57,029100.00
Registered voters/turnout96,99558.80
Source: [6]

Yilan

Magistrate of Yilan
CandidatePartyVotes%
甘阿炎 Kuomintang 64,17158.02
陳旺全Independent46,43741.98
Total110,608100.00
Valid votes110,60897.52
Invalid/blank votes2,8162.48
Total votes113,424100.00
Registered voters/turnout142,23979.74
Source: [7]

Taoyuan

Magistrate of Taoyuan
CandidatePartyVotes%
張芳燮 Kuomintang 88,43962.27
曹成金Independent53,58337.73
Total142,022100.00
Valid votes142,02297.57
Invalid/blank votes3,5382.43
Total votes145,560100.00
Registered voters/turnout187,44077.66
Source: [7]

Hsinchu

After incumbent magistrate Chu Sheng-chi (朱盛淇) supported rival of the Kuomintang in 1955 election for Speaker of the County Council, Chu was not nominated by the party for re-election.

Magistrate of Hsinchu
CandidatePartyVotes%
鄒滌之 Kuomintang 88,53456.94
鄭鴻源Independent66,95343.06
Total155,487100.00
Valid votes155,48797.73
Invalid/blank votes3,6162.27
Total votes159,103100.00
Registered voters/turnout188,78084.28
Source: [8] [7]

Miaoli

Magistrate of Miaoli
CandidatePartyVotes%
劉定國 Kuomintang 81,49459.04
何允文Independent56,54240.96
Total138,036100.00
Valid votes138,03697.46
Invalid/blank votes3,5962.54
Total votes141,632100.00
Registered voters/turnout179,84578.75
Source: [7]

Taichung

Lin He-nien (林鶴年), former Taichung Magistrate, was again nominated by the Kuomintang. Clashes between local factions continued, with "Lin faction" supporting Lin and "Chen faction" supporting Yang Chi-chen (楊基振) from Tangwai.

Opposition accused election frauds as strongholds of Yang experienced electricity outrage at night during vote counting, leaving polling stations with staff only. [9]

Magistrate of Taichung
CandidatePartyVotes%
Lin He-nien Kuomintang 111,62062.78
Yang Chi-chenIndependent66,18837.22
Total177,808100.00
Valid votes177,80896.82
Invalid/blank votes5,8443.18
Total votes183,652100.00
Registered voters/turnout243,15975.53
Source: [7]
Mayor of Taichung
CandidatePartyVotes%
Lin Chin-piao Kuomintang 47,27358.56
何春木Independent33,45341.44
Total80,726100.00
Valid votes80,72696.63
Invalid/blank votes2,8153.37
Total votes83,541100.00
Registered voters/turnout111,36875.01
Source: [7]

Changhua

This year's election was the repetition of 1954's between incumbent Chen Hsi-ching from the KMT and Shih Hsi-hsun from Tangwai, after Chen again secured party nomination.

Some of Shih's supporters were arrested during election rally, angering residents to protest outside the police station, while Kuomintang smeared Shih with personal attacks. On the election day, frauds such as blackouts and village chiefs voting on behalf of villagers that were reported in last election occurred again. Eventually Shih only received around 42% of votes, lower than the expected 140,000 and was defeated. [10]

Magistrate of Changhua
CandidatePartyVotes%
Chen Hsi-ching Kuomintang 143,88457.52
Shih Hsi-hsunIndependent106,27342.48
Total250,157100.00
Valid votes250,15796.60
Invalid/blank votes8,8153.40
Total votes258,972100.00
Registered voters/turnout351,80773.61
Source: [7]

Nantou

Magistrate of Nantou
CandidatePartyVotes%
洪樵榕 Kuomintang 75,99461.22
蔡瑞水Independent48,13838.78
Total124,132100.00
Valid votes124,13297.10
Invalid/blank votes3,7072.90
Total votes127,839100.00
Registered voters/turnout158,46180.68
Source: [11]

Yunlin

Wang Yin-kuei (王吟貴), ex-speaker of Yunlin County Council, ran for Young China Party and as a Tangwai candidate, fighting against Lin Chin-sheng, nominated by the KMT to stage a political comeback. As Wang was more popular than Lin, the local party announced from the local administration that towns with high turnout and support rate for Lin would receive government subsidies. The local KMT also launched smearing campaign against the rivalry, claiming Wang "stirred troubles", "divided the community", and "publicly assaulted the governance". [12] The defamatory speeches and vote-buying acts, although suspected of breaking election laws, were not penalised by the authorities.

On the election day, it was reported that staff at polling station marked the ballot paper in favour of Lin on behalf of a blind despite the elector insisted on voting for Wang. [3] Lin eventually defeated Wang by a landslide.

Magistrate of Yunlin
CandidatePartyVotes%
Lin Chin-seng Kuomintang 132,14563.72
Wang Yin-kuei Young China Party 75,22936.28
Total207,374100.00
Valid votes207,37497.17
Invalid/blank votes6,0292.83
Total votes213,403100.00
Registered voters/turnout263,29681.05
Source: [7]

Chiayi

Magistrate of Chiayi
CandidatePartyVotes%
黃宗焜 Kuomintang 109,47554.04
李茂松Independent93,10445.96
Total202,579100.00
Valid votes202,57997.46
Invalid/blank votes5,2782.54
Total votes207,857100.00
Registered voters/turnout278,45274.65
Source: [7]

Tainan

Magistrate of Tainan
CandidatePartyVotes%
胡龍寶 Kuomintang 178,24868.60
吳拜Independent81,57931.40
Total259,827100.00
Valid votes259,82797.67
Invalid/blank votes6,2112.33
Total votes266,038100.00
Registered voters/turnout314,89384.49
Source: [7]

In Tainan City, Yeh Ting-kuei (葉廷珪) completed a political revenge, being elected to the mayorship again and as the only independent winner of this election after leaving the KMT before the election. His friendliness to grassroot community is believed the crucial factor of his victory. [13]

Mayor of Tainan
CandidatePartyVotes%
Yeh Ting-kueiIndependent62,05658.51
楊請 Kuomintang 44,00141.49
Total106,057100.00
Valid votes106,05797.50
Invalid/blank votes2,7152.50
Total votes108,772100.00
Registered voters/turnout129,62483.91
Source: [14]

Kaohsiung

With the unresolved disputes between two powerful local factions, Kuomintang nominated Chen Chi-hsing (陳皆興), an obscure councillor as the candidate. The two factions therefore turned to Yu Teng-fa, who was convinced to prevent an uncontested election. [15]

Irregularities were reported after around 200 voters of one constituency discovered their ballots had been cast by others, who in turn demanded explanation despite police's threats. Results revealed that only two constituents out of 1,063 did not vote. Yu was also defeated unexpectedly. [9]

Following the defeat, Yu filed petition to dispute the election results, which was obstructed by agents of KMT as voters attempted to testify at court. Officials at polling stations were accused by Yu of rigging the election by fingerprinting on the electoral roll "like playing the piano" to get the ballot papers. [16] Nevertheless, the court only convicted two staff members and decided not to charge the others. [15] The court further rejected annulling the results on the basis that "one polling station is not enough to impact the election result". [9] The verdict effectively blocked any vote re-count proposed by Tangwai in the next thirty years. Kuomintang, therefore, was mocked by the public when insisting elections were "honest, fair, and open" for "flagrant in vote-rigging, transparent in ballot-stuffing, and impartial in vote-buying". [15]

Magistrate of Kaohsiung
CandidatePartyVotes%
Chen Chi-hsing Kuomintang 118,25562.93
Yu Teng-fa Independent69,65037.07
Total187,905100.00
Valid votes187,90596.91
Invalid/blank votes5,9863.09
Total votes193,891100.00
Registered voters/turnout244,92379.16
Source: [17]

Meanwhile, in Kaohsiung City, the Kuomintang was divided between sending incumbent mayor Hsieh Cheng-chiang (謝掙強) and City Council Speaker Chen Wu-chang (陳武璋). Chen at last secured party nomination. For the Tangwai camp, two leading potential candidates reached an agreement, with Yang Chin-hu (楊金虎), delegate of National Assembly, running in mayoral election with CDSP's nomination, [18] while Li Yuan-chan (李源棧), a City Councillor, compete for the seat in Taiwan Provincial Council. With the support from most of the local factions, Chan easily defeated Yang. [19]

Mayor of Kaohsiung
CandidatePartyVotes%
Chen Wu-chang Kuomintang 86,40964.70
Yang Chin-hu China Democratic Socialist Party 47,13835.30
Total133,547100.00
Valid votes133,54797.96
Invalid/blank votes2,7872.04
Total votes136,334100.00
Registered voters/turnout168,90780.72
Source: [20]

Pingtung

Magistrate of Pingtung
CandidatePartyVotes%
林石城 Kuomintang 179,099100.00
Total179,099100.00
Valid votes179,09992.55
Invalid/blank votes14,4197.45
Total votes193,518100.00
Registered voters/turnout253,09176.46
Source: [7]

Hualien

Magistrate of Hualien
CandidatePartyVotes%
胡子萍 Kuomintang 60,08770.87
徐輝國Independent24,70329.13
Total84,790100.00
Valid votes84,79096.84
Invalid/blank votes2,7693.16
Total votes87,559100.00
Registered voters/turnout101,87685.95
Source: [7]

Taitung

Magistrate of Taitung
CandidatePartyVotes%
黃拓榮 Kuomintang 53,65983.27
黃忠Independent10,78016.73
Total64,439100.00
Valid votes64,43995.96
Invalid/blank votes2,7164.04
Total votes67,155100.00
Registered voters/turnout77,69886.43
Source: [7] [21]

Penghu

Magistrate of Penghu
CandidatePartyVotes%
Lee Yu-lin Kuomintang 32,434100.00
Total32,434100.00
Valid votes32,43497.68
Invalid/blank votes7722.32
Total votes33,206100.00
Registered voters/turnout39,88183.26
Source: [7]

References

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  3. 1 2 "開放歷史-歷史元來如此:不公的地方選舉". Radio Taiwan International (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2018-03-06. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  4. Central Daily News, 1957-04-22, p.3
  5. 黃, 振超 (1987). 臺北市志·卷三·政制志選舉篇. pp. 255, 257.
  6. 邱, 智信, ed. (2001). 基隆市志·卷三·政治志選舉篇. p. 31.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 臺灣省地方自治誌要. Taichung: 臺灣省地方自治誌要編輯委員會. 1966. p. 418.
  8. 周, 浩治, ed. (2008). 新竹縣志續修(民國四十一年至八十年)·卷四·政事志. pp. 550–551.
  9. 1 2 3 吳, 乃德 (2013). 百年追求:臺灣民主運動的故事 卷二 自由的挫敗. 衛城出版. pp. 134, 147. ISBN   978-986-89626-4-4.
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  11. 黃, 耀能; 陳, 哲三; 吳, 金標 (1997). 南投縣志·卷二·政事志. p. 392.
  12. "雲縣長競選趨白熱化 國民黨助選活動迭違反選舉法令 已普遍引起縣民非議". 公論報. 1957-04-20. p. 3.
  13. 蘇, 南成 (2014). 大頭市長蘇南成. p. 42.
  14. 王, 振惠; 游, 醒民 (1979). 臺南市志·卷九·選舉志. pp. 181–182.
  15. 1 2 3 彭, 瑞金 (1995). 台灣野生的政治家:余登發. 時報出版. pp. 98–99, 104–105. ISBN   978-986-294-133-1.
  16. 臺灣時報社 (1977). 政海浮沉錄. 臺灣時報社. p. 147.
  17. 臺灣省地方自治誌要. Taichung: 臺灣省地方自治誌要編輯委員會. 1966. p. 415.
  18. "民社黨昨公布參加競選名單". 中華日報. 1957-03-29.
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  21. 顏, 志光 (2001). 臺東縣史·政事篇. p. 239.