A political fixture in Hsinchu City has quietly stepped aside, opening up a rare free seat and reshaping the race in the Xiangshan district.

• Cheng Cheng-kuang, an 11-term councillor and former council speaker, picked up nomination papers but never filed them before the deadline.
• Health reasons, discussed with his family, are understood to be behind the decision; he has not commented publicly.
• Eight candidates are now chasing six Xiangshan seats, including two first-time runners and one backed by the Taiwan People's Party.
• Four other sitting councillors also declined to file for re-election, meaning heavy turnover on the council.

Outlook: The open seat left by a nearly 50-year career in local politics becomes the main prize for newcomers when Hsinchu votes for its 12th city council.