Taipei County Magistrate Chou Hsi-wei's decision not to run for re-election in year-end elections dominated local newspaper headlines Tuesday. The following are excerpts of the leading newspaper's report about it: China Times: Although Chou decided to step aside to make way for Vice Premier Eric Liluan Chu to run for the top spot in Xinbei City, as the upgraded Taipei County has been provisionally named, Chu lags behind his possible Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rival Su Tseng-chang, in a poll conducted by the China Times. The survey carried out Monday after Chou announced his decision showed that Su leads Chu 40 percent to 29 percent. Su's support rate remained almost unchanged compared to a similar survey by The China Times in February when he received 41 percent of the vote, while Chu's support rate declined by 7 percentage points, probably because of the public's sympathy for Chou. However, Chu would defeat three other DPP leaders -- Tsai Ing-wen, Yu Shyi-kun and Frank Hsieh -- in a two-way race, according to the survey. Although Chou's decision was made with the presumption that Su will be the DPP's nominee in the race, the former premier kept his cards close to his vest Monday. One of Su's aides said Su would not rule out any possibility for the time being. DPP lawmakers were split over how the party should respond to Chou's decision. Legislator Wang Sing-nan said Su should take up the challenge because whichever party wins three of the five seats up for grabs in the year-end special municipality elections will gain an advantage in the 2012 presidential election. On the other hand, Legislator Gao Jyh-peng said the move was a trap set for Su by the KMT, and he urged Su not to play into the KMT's hands by running in Xinbei City. (Feb. 23, 2010) The Liberty Times: DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen dismissed Chou's decision as a KMT campaign trick designed to boost its underdog candidates in the Feb. 27 legislative by- elections. 'It is regrettable that Chou became a lame duck one year before the end of his term. It hurt Chou, Chu and the voters of Taipei County.' Tsai said. (Feb. 23, 2010) United Daily News: Chou has only himself to blame for his low approval rating, especially after he tarnished his image irrevocably in 2007 when he led a group of officials to track a tiger that had reportedly eaten goats in a county town. The tiger turned out to be a stray dog, turning Chou into a laughingstock. However, he will be remembered as an unselfish statesman who put his party's benefit ahead of his own because of his decision not to seek re-election. His decision, however, does not ensure Chu's election in Xinbei City, as the KMT administration's overall approval rating is still flagging. Furthermore, local elected officials in Taipei County who will lose their jobs after the county is converted into a municipality might vote for the opposition party out of anger, and by the same token, Chou's followers might not support Chu in an election. (Feb. 23, 2010) 