Huang said he already informed Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung of the ruling Kuomintang about the decision one day earlier. A KMT spokesman said Wu did not agree with such a decision of giving up his current post, but also showed understanding and the party will continue giving full support for Huang's election campaign.

Huang, a two-term legislator, already won formal KMT nomination to run for magistrate after scoring victory in a primary by defeating incumbent Magistrate Kuang Li-cheng and Yao Ching-ling, presently Taitung County Council deputy speaker.

Liu Yao-hao, candidate of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), threatened to file a lawsuit against Huang, alleging that he could have made certain undertable political deal with Kuang in order to refuse the animosity from the current magistrate. Huang rebuked Liu's allegation as baseless political charge.

Kuang's public image was tarnished and her popularity took a dive after local media reported that she had used public funds to take many sightseeing tours abroad in the name of studying development and administrative facilities in foreign countries.