Pingtung Mayoral Candidates Campaign at Markets and Old Streets for Mid-Autumn Festival

In the local elections scheduled in Taiwan for September 26, the Pingtung County magistracy race has become a focal point. Falling on the Mid-Autumn Festival, the day saw Taiwanese citizens engaging in community activities alongside moon-gazing and eating mooncakes. Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Kuomintang (KMT) magistrate candidate Su Ching-chuan both visited various communities during the holiday to greet residents and shorten the distance with voters. Chou rose early to welcome vendors at Jianguo Market and deliver holiday blessings, while Su visited Hengchun Old Street to campaign for votes and express his concern for the development of domestic tourism. The itineraries of both candidates served as both participation in traditional festivals and essential steps in political campaigning, highlighting the close connection between local elections and community life.

Jianguo Market is the heart of Pingtung City, gathering a large volume of agricultural produce, seafood, and daily necessities. Chou engaged in cordial conversations with vendors inside the market, reiterating her "agricultural industry upgrading" plan promoted during her tenure, and pledged to continue improving market facilities and enhancing logistics efficiency. This move not only demonstrated her attention to farmers and merchants but also reminded voters of her track record in local economic development. Since taking office as county magistrate, Chou has promoted policies such as "Pingtung Green Energy" and "Smart Agriculture," striving to combine traditional agriculture with modern technology to increase output value and competitiveness. These policies resonated with market vendors, who can directly experience the convenience and financial benefits brought by them.

Su Ching-chuan chose Hengchun Old Street, one of Pingtung's most tourism-attractive areas and the gateway to the national scenic area, Kenting National Park. While campaigning along the old street, Su emphasized his commitments to "enhancing the quality of domestic tourism" and "strengthening infrastructure," pointing out that if elected, he would promote projects such as the "Hengchun Accommodation Upgrading Plan" and "coastal protection." These proposals echo the "domestic tourism revitalization" policy promoted by the KMT at the national level, demonstrating that he also has concrete implementation plans at the local level. Hengchun's tourism industry makes a huge contribution to Pingtung's economy, especially during the off-season. If Su's policies can be implemented, they will help boost local employment and income.

Overall, the itineraries of these two candidates were not only holiday community interactions but also direct responses to local issues. The main economic pillars of Pingtung County include agricul