A local council race in Chiayi City, Taiwan has turned into an online brawl, bad news for civility but a boost in attention for both candidates.

• Food blogger Christine has registered to run against incumbent councillor Yen Ling-hsi in Chiayi City's east district.
• Christine said she was flooded with abusive comments after claiming Yen had been absent from Chiayi for three years and only opened a local service office ahead of the re-election bid.
• She said critics called her ugly, fake, and worse, while praising Yen, and complained that pointing out facts is being framed as a dirty attack.
• Yen drew attention in an earlier campaign by legally changing names to a slogan-like phrase about supporting a red-light district regardless of party colour.
• Supporters counter that Yen said years ago she would not run a physical office and would take complaints by email instead.

Outlook: Expect the fight to stay personal and online as the local elections approach, with the absent-versus-present service record as the main line of attack.