After days of torrential rain brought fresh flooding to Taitung, the two candidates for county magistrate have made flood control and rural healthcare their signature issues respectively — a welcome development for local residents.

• Long-standing flood-prone areas in Taitung City such as Nanwang and Dongfang Dazhen have seen water pooling again in recent days, with residents scrambling to hold back the water.
• Wu Hsiu-hua said flood control can no longer wait under extreme climate conditions, calling for these areas to be designated as priorities and for subsidies to help residents install flood barriers and water-blocking boards.
• She also proposed a comprehensive review of drainage systems and stormwater sewers to address the problem at its source, rather than settling for short-term disaster prevention.
• Chen Ying is campaigning on rural healthcare. Following the passage of the amendment to Article 88 of the Medical Care Act, the subsidies and incentive payments received by medical personnel in remote areas will be exempt from income tax for the next ten years.
• Taitung has the lowest average life expectancy in the country, and inadequate medical resources is seen as one of the main causes.

Outlook: As the race heats up, flood control projects and the shortage of medical personnel in remote areas will be the main points of contention going forward.