Hsieh Tung-che, a well-known Chiayi artist working in koji pottery and cut-and-paste porcelain, is entering the electoral fray, but he has yet to decide himself whether to run for county magistrate or for chief of Hsinkang Township.

• Hsieh went alone to the Chiayi County Election Commission today to collect the candidacy forms for county magistrate, and he also plans to go to the Hsinkang Township Office to pick up the township chief forms.
• His central pitch is a "Golden Decade" for Chiayi, built around the county seat's urban land consolidation project, covering 367 hectares and due for completion in 2030.
• After consolidation, the county government's share of cost-equivalent land is estimated to bring in tens of billions of NT dollars at auction, leaving a net gain of about NT$35 billion once development costs are deducted.
• By law the money can only be spent on public infrastructure within the consolidation zone, and he advocates building an international convention, exhibition and performing arts centre.
• The centre would host international exhibitions in fields such as semiconductors, drones and smart agricultural machinery, linking up the Chiayi Science Park and the TSMC supply chain, and forming a golden triangle of arts and culture together with the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum.

Outlook: When he decides between running for county magistrate and running for township chief will shape the wider alignment of Chiayi's local election.