Hualien City's mayoral race has turned into a three-way mess with no blue-white alliance, which is bad for both opposition parties and good for anyone hoping the vote splits.

• Sitting mayor Wei Chia-yen registered for re-election without a KMT nomination, running on his own instead.
• The Taiwan People's Party put up its own candidate, Tai Yu-wen, so the two opposition camps are fighting each other.
• Ko Wen-je mocked the setup: one brother running for mayor as a KMT member, the other running for county chief with no party at all, and the KMT nominating nobody for mayor.
• Wei is asking voters to ignore party labels and back "whoever can get things done," pointing to earthquake rebuilding and disaster preparedness as his record.
• His pitch for a second term leans on tourism promotion, sidewalks and school routes, indigenous language and community programs, and new family parks.

Outlook: With the opposition split and the KMT sitting out the nomination, Hualien City looks set for a tight contest decided by personal loyalty rather than party lines.