The DPP, which at the time advocated direct appointment of township mayors, has wasted no time in realizing the proposed measures since it came to power in March. In other words, the KMT is trying to block the abolishment of township mayor elections. Local gangsters can use township representative elections to mask their identity and hide in the shadow of an elected representative. Gang leaders can then team up with the representatives, get themselves elected as township mayors and control all personnel and resources within the township. This is how local factions have taken shape in Taiwan.
Elections generate local factions, which, in turn, nurture election campaigns.
The abolishment of township elections is a fundamental solution that will change Taiwan's local politics once and for all. In fact, the KMT should go all out in seeing that they're abolished. Abolishing township elections will be no less than a revolution in Taiwan's local politics because the entire local administrative system will have to be redesigned. The county and city governments will have direct authority over township mayors, who will be playing the role of executive managers implementing the missions assigned by the city and county governments. Township offices will also become simple administrative units.