In the Jan. 16 mayoral election in Akune, Kagoshima Prefecture, residents chose a newcomer over the former "autocratic" mayor. But it is uncertain whether the electoral results will bring back normalcy to the city soon.
The former mayor Shinichi Takehara was recalled in December in a referendum. He had been criticized for taking advantage of a provision under the Local Autonomy Law that lets a local government head take unilateral actions, in an emergency situation, on important matters without calling an assembly. This way he had halved the bonus of city office workers, introduced a per diem system for city assembly members and appointed a former police officer of Ehime Prefecture to vice mayor.
Mr. Yoshimasa Nishihara, a chicken farm operator, defeated Mr. Takehara by a small margin of 864 votes — 8,509 to 7,645. After the election, Mr. Nishihara said he would seek dialogue with the assembly and city office workers. He also said he would continue the per diem system for assembly members but hinted that he may raise the bonus for city office workers.