Votes were counted for the mayoral election of Manazuru Town in Kanagawa Prefecture on the 12th, following the successful recall of the former mayor over the issue of fraudulent leakage of electoral rolls, and Nobuyuki Kobayashi (48), an independent newcomer and former member of the Yokosuka City Council in Kanagawa Prefecture, was elected. ) was elected for the first time, defeating four newcomers, including Masahiro Hosoda (64), former head of Manazuru Town’s general affairs department. This is the third time in the past three years that the mayoral election has been held. Voter turnout was 62.16%.
At his office in the town, Kobayashi emphasized, “I want to be the mayor for everyone, transcending the divide between those who support the recall and those who oppose it.” After taking office, he announced that he would spend 45 days cleaning up past mistakes and scandals on the condition that they be investigated. While proceeding with administrative and operational evaluations, he announced that he would thoroughly disclose information and introduce a system to report progress on measures every 30 days.
In Manazuru Town, it was discovered that former mayor Kazuhiko Matsumoto, a former town employee, used a fraudulently copied electoral roll for everyone in the town in the 2020 mayoral election, which was his first election. He was re-elected in a fresh election after resigning in 2021, but this led to an unusual situation in which he was criminally charged by the town for violating the Public Elections Act (obstructing free elections). The company lost its job in a recall referendum in September, due to a large number of staff leaving the company. (Seio Nishioka)
Mr. Kobayashi is happy to win the election in Manazuru Town
◆ Townspeople called for “unfettered politics” and “renovation”
The election for mayor of Manazuru, Kanagawa Prefecture, to be held on the 12th following the passing of a recall request for former mayor Kazuhiko Matsumoto, will be contested by five newcomers, including Nobuyuki Kobayashi (48), a former Yokosuka city councilor who has only moved here for a month. won the melee. This is the first time that a top official has been appointed without any local or blood ties, and the town’s residents are calling for “reform.” However, the administrative turmoil caused by the fraudulent leakage of electoral rolls still lingers, and rebuilding the town, which has been shaken by mass employee resignations, is an urgent issue. As soon as he took office, his skills were severely questioned.
The other candidates are Masahiro Hosoda (64), head of the Motomachi General Affairs Department, Eri Takeshita (55), a doctor, Yuji Sekoguchi (56), an author, and AI Meyer (50), a company president. All of them are independent, except for AI from various factions.
When Kobayashi moved after announcing his candidacy for mayor, his supporters were mainly politicians from outside the town and prefecture who were fellow policy researchers, and none of them were Manazuru residents. There is no support group, and the executive director is a former Nara prefectural assembly member. On the 7th, when the announcement was made, the only local resident who rushed to give a speech of support was the former mayor of Yugawara, whom he had just met through the store where he had shopped.
During the election, he cycled around the town, stopping at stations and in front of stores to appeal for unfettered politics. However, Mr. Hosoda, who is now in a virtual one-on-one battle, has a rock-solid system that enjoys the support of local economic groups and many town councilors. It was clear that his organizational skills were inferior, and up until the second day of the campaign, he recalled, “I thought I was going to lose.”
However, the circle of cooperation expanded through word of mouth. From the third day, the number of comments such as “Thank you for coming to town,” “Thank you for running for office,” and “You can’t change things if you are a former town employee” increased day by day, and on the final day, the expectations of the town residents were confirmed. He says he has started to feel a strong sense of emotion.
Due to the prolonged turmoil in the town’s administration, there was a strong desire for “reform” in this mayor’s election. Shortly after 10 p.m. on the 12th, the day the votes were counted, Kobayashi was at the election office in the town where he had received the news of his election, claiming, “I think this time it’s a turning point for Manazuru.” He sought to repair the rift that arose between those in favor and those opposed to the recall referendum held in September, and expressed his approach to town administration from the outside with the words “mayor for everyone.”
[Commentary]The skill of a “traveller” is questioned “I will do it without reading the atmosphere”
“He may be an outsider, a traveler, but he knows Manazuru’s challenges very well.” Kobayashi made this appeal during the election. After being elected, he said, “I’m a traveler, so I want to go without reading the atmosphere.”
Manazuru Town has two ports for fishing boats and stone carriers, and an open maritime culture has taken root there. Many of the people who moved to the area because of its retro scenery say, “There is no exclusivity that is unique to the region.” There is no doubt that the climate of not discriminating against immigrants had an impact on the election campaign.
A member of the community group that pushed for the recall of the former mayor said, “The referendum was made possible through courageous signatures.” Despite the risk of being viewed, the site gained widespread support because it is difficult to succumb to peer pressure in an uneven society, such as being concerned about public appearance, reading the mood, and not being intrusive.
Peer pressure and authoritative organizations and communities, where people fear being left out, have a strong tendency to oppress individuals, including in schools and the internet world. A culture that forces patience and self-sacrifice can lead to low self-esteem, bullying, and suicide among young people.
After being elected, Kobayashi announced his intention to have dialogue with council members and all town officials. The aim is to create a workplace environment where young employees can freely express their opinions and where mistakes and issues are not hidden. He intends to meet with all council members and move forward with the appointment of the deputy mayor, which has been vacant for three years due to conflict with the council. The townspeople have high expectations for their leader, who is not a former town employee and has no connection to Manazuru. The skills of travelers from the large port city of Yokosuka will be tested. (Seio Nishioka)
◇Manazuru mayor election confirmed votes
1975 Nobuyuki Kobayashi Mushin
1444 Masahiro Hosoda Mushin
181 Eri Takeshita Mushin
98 Yuji Sekoguchi Mushin
30 AI Mayer New
Nobuyuki Kobayashi48 Mushin＜1＞
Consulting business (former) Diet member secretary/Yokosuka city council member ▽Waseda University Graduate School
◇
The by-election for town councilor (1 candidate), which was counted on the 12th, the same day as the mayor’s election, was won by independent newcomer Kana Yamazaki (54).
◇ Manazuru town council by-election confirmed votes (number of candidates: 1 – 2 candidates)
When 2436 Shan﨑Kana has nothing new
1115 Isamu Kimura Mugen
2023-11-14 10:55:09
#Nobuyuki #Kobayashi #moved #Kanagawa #month #wins #mayoral #election #Manazuru #mayor #loses #job #due #recall #leader #geographical #blood #ties #born #Tokyo #Shimbun #TOKYO #Web
