Taiwan's Yilan county race is heating up, with the KMT painting the DPP's candidate as a party insider rewarded with cushy state-linked jobs — bad news for Lin Kuo-chang's clean-hands image, useful ammunition for the opposition.

• The KMT's Yilan branch says lawyer Lin Kuo-chang sits on the boards of three state-linked companies while drawing millions in extra pay.
• His posts include adviser to the Executive Yuan plus board and supervisor roles at China Airlines, a power company, and a shipping firm — despite no background in shipping or energy.
• The KMT calls the appointments payback from President Lai Ching-te and the DPP's New Tide faction, asking why Lin was drafted ahead of local talent.
• Lin has hit back, calling the attacks a smear campaign, and has not answered the questions point by point.
• The DPP's own Yilan ranks are split, with members of a rival faction expelled after running against the party line.

Outlook: Expect the KMT to keep hammering the patronage angle and Lin to face pressure to explain his outside income before the vote.