As the Chiayi County magistrate race heats up, Democratic Progressive Party candidate Tsai Yi-yu has secured the backing of the junior chamber business community, campaigning on continuing the industrial transformation agenda of incumbent magistrate Weng Chang-liang.

• The "Chiayi County Magistrate Candidate Tsai Yi-yu Junior Chamber Support Group" was established in Minxiong, with Hou Tsung-yen, former national president of Junior Chamber International Republic of China, serving as its chairman.
• At the inaugural meeting, radishes and pineapples were presented, symbolising good fortune and prosperity, with wishes for Tsai Yi-yu to win by a wide margin.
• Incumbent magistrate Weng Chang-liang appeared on stage in support, stressing that Chiayi is undergoing a dual-track transformation driven by the technology and consumer industries, and that the baton needs to be passed on.
• With major investments such as TSMC and Noke Outlet Mall arriving one after another, and six industrial parks gradually taking shape, Chiayi is shifting from an agricultural county to an agricultural-industrial-technology county.
• Tsai Yi-yu pledged to build on the existing foundation while shoring up transport, education, healthcare and long-term care, so that young people will be willing to stay in Chiayi.

Outlook: The campaign's central theme has been set as "continuing development," and Tsai Yi-yu is expected to keep consolidating local organisations and industry networks to court grassroots support.