Progressive candidate wins mayoral election in Kyoto Prefecture

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Progressive candidate wins mayoral election in Kyoto Prefecture

An independent candidate supported by the Japanese Communist Party defeated an incumbent supported by the Liberal Democratic, Komei, and Democratic parties in the mayoral election in Oyamazaki Town in Kyoto Prefecture on October 22.

Unconvinced by strong anti-communist attacks, the residents chose a democratic town government to replace the current one that has been subservient to the central and prefectural governments.

In the town with a population of 15,000, 65-year-old Manabe Sohei, the Association for a Democratic Oyamazaki Town Government representative, won in his second challenge in four years.

Manabe's realistic set of policies aimed at alleviating residents' burdens have helped increase support for him.

In addition to groundwater in which the town has an abundance of, the Kyoto prefectural government in 2000 forced the town to use prefecture-run water. Since then, the town government has raised the water rates, which are now the highest in Kyoto Prefecture.

Manabe, who has long been active in the movement to protect water rights, appealed to residents by saying that if the town government notifies the prefecture of the actual amount of water used, the rates should be reduced.

He also made clear his opposition to a town's plan to privatize three town-run nurseries.

As a community planner, Manabe has been engaged in town planning in various parts of the country. He also has headed the Association for a Democratic Oyamazaki Town Government for 24 years. As a candidate, he listened to residents and talked of his policy in discussion circles.

Dietmembers and prefectural assembly members of the LDP, Komei, and the DPJ who came to the town during the campaign devoted themselves to anti-communist propaganda saying, "If a communist-backed mayor is elected, the town will be politically isolated from other parts of the prefecture, like a 'solitary island'."

Residents, however, rebuffed it by saying, "How can slander against communists make this town better?"

In the town assembly election held on the same day, all six JCP candidates were returned. This increased both the number and the percentage of JCP votes compared to the previous election. Six seats account for 37.5 percent in the assembly, the highest among the nation's local assemblies.
- Akahata, October 23, 24, 2006