The election battle in Hsinchu City has grown more heated, as Chien Kang-ming, former Cultural Affairs Bureau director under Mayor Ann Kao's city government, has announced he is entering the race for a city council seat in the East District — bad news for the incumbent mayor's camp.

• Chien Kang-ming picked up his registration papers today and will run as an independent for city councillor in Hsinchu City's East District (First Electoral District).
• He served as Cultural Affairs Bureau director during Ann Kao's tenure, but was asked to resign after only six months in the post. He has since publicly criticised the city government on numerous occasions and has been called Ann Kao's number-one whistleblower.
• His past revelations have included allegations that Ann Kao's boyfriend interfered in city affairs and claims about the inside story of the New Year's Eve event tender, which at one point forced Ann Kao to record a video apology to city residents.
• His campaign slogan is "Bamboo has joints, people have integrity, dare to scrutinise," with a central pledge to rigorously monitor city government affairs if elected.
• Ann Kao herself will register her bid for re-election on 2 September, accompanied by Kuomintang chairwoman Cheng Li-wun.

Outlook: The East District council race was already crowded with candidates, and with Chien Kang-ming joining, the campaign's focus is bound to centre even more closely on the controversies surrounding Ann Kao's city government.