JCP-backed candidates win mayoral elections

On June 20, mayoral candidates backed by the Japanese Communist Party were elected in three local municipalities.

In Hanawa Town, Fukushima Prefecture, Kikuchi Motofumi received 4,663 votes and beat the former town mayor.

The 58-year-old candidate was supported by a residents' association for fair town politics which the JCP took part in.

In his election campaign, Kikuchi stressed the need to change the development-oriented town politics to the one in defense of residents' living conditions and for promotion of social welfare.

In Shiroyama Town in Kanagawa Prefecture, unaffiliated candidate Kobayashi Masaaki defeated the former mayor by receiving 5,662 votes.

In Chosei Village in Chiba Prefecture, a candidate backed by the Liberal Democratic Party was beaten by a candidate supported by the Association for a Bright Chosei. (end)