An unknown independent has jumped into Taiwan's Yilan county magistrate race, adding a wildcard to what looked like a straight two-party fight.

• Chen Hung-yi, 52, registered as an independent on the first day of sign-ups, beating both major parties to the paperwork.
• Almost nothing is known about him — he chose not to make his platform public, and he only recently moved to Yilan from another county.
• The race was expected to be a two-way contest: the KMT and TPP have united behind lawmaker Wu Tsung-hsien, while the DPP is running lawyer Lin Kuo-chang.
• Both main candidates plan to register in the next two days, part of Taiwan's combined local elections.

Outlook: His platform becomes public once election officials clear his candidacy and publish the official voter guide.