Several hopefuls are eyeing a legislative seat to be vacated by Chen Chi-yu, who agreed Tuesday to serve as deputy mayor of the Kaohsiung municipality, which will be formed on Dec. 25 after a merger of Kaohsiung city and county. Chen said he has accepted an offer by Mayor-elect Chen Chu to serve as her deputy and he will resign from his position in the legislature Wednesday. Under the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act, a by-election must be held within three months of a regional lawmaker relinquishing his seat. Local sources said aspirants to Chen's post are from both the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) and the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Some of those who have shown interest include former DPP lawmakers Lin Tai-hua, Yen Wen-chang and Lee Kun-tse, and the KMT's Niaosong Township head Chang Mei- yao and Wang Yao-yu, who lost his bid last month for a seat on the Kaohsiung City council. 