Ginan City Hall (Reference Photo)
This article was written by
Ryukyu Shimpo Morning Edition
Ginan City notified the city’s election management committee on the 26th regarding the death of the mayor. The Public Election Act states that an election must be held within 50 days of notification, meaning the mayoral election will take place by September 14. The city election committee will hold a meeting as early as the 29th to discuss the schedule.
In terms of providing ample time until the deadline and increasing voter turnout, it is anticipated that September 8, the last Sunday within the 50-day limit, will be the most likely date for voting.
Regarding the selection of candidates, both the ruling and opposition parties in the prefecture are expected to prioritize the intentions of local organizations. Due to the short-term election that is a result of the mayor’s sudden passing, names of well-known former mayors, prefectural assembly members, and city council members are being mentioned.
From the conservative side, names being whispered include former mayor Atsushi Sakima (59), city council chairman Eiji Uruya (61), and former chairman of the city council Yasuyuki Kamichi (65).
The All-Okinawa side is also in a hurry to nominate candidates. It is expected that candidates will be chosen from well-known prefectural assembly members, former prefectural assembly members, and city council members. A ruling party member in the prefectural government stated, “Discussions will proceed centered around city council members. It is necessary for the local area to come together to decide on a candidate and build a structure.”
One insider mentioned that the selection of candidates “will probably accelerate after Matsukawa’s initial seven-day period is over.”
The 1973 mayoral election, which was the first after the reversion, saw the progressive side win. This was followed by a conservative administration from 1977 to 1985, then a progressive administration from 1985 to 2012, and since 2012, a conservative administration has been ongoing.