千葉知事選、新人８氏が届け出　コロナ対策争点

　任期満了に伴う千葉県知事選が４日告示され、新人８人が立候補を届け出た。３期務めた現職の森田健作氏は引退を表明しており、新人同士の争いは１２年ぶり。８人の出馬は過去最多となる。投開票は２１日で、千葉市長選と同日選になる。
　新型コロナウイルス対策のほか、コロナで打撃を受けた経済の立て直し、防災・減災対策などが争点となる見通し。
　立候補を届け出たのは、元千葉市長の熊谷俊人氏（４３）、自営業の後藤輝樹氏（３８）、医師の加藤健一郎氏（７１）、元予備校講師の金光理恵氏（５７）＝共産推薦＝、元県立高校長の皆川真一郎氏（６６）、前県議の関政幸氏（４１）＝自民推薦＝、政治団体代表の平塚正幸氏（３９）、会社経営の河合悠祐氏（４０）。熊谷氏は立憲民主、日本維新の会、国民民主各党の県組織の支援を受ける。（2021/03/04-11:41）

The official campaign period for the March 21 gubernatorial election in Chiba Prefecture, eastern Japan, kicked off on Thursday, with eight people filing their candidacies.
   The number of candidates is largest for a gubernatorial poll in the prefecture neighboring Tokyo.
   This is set to be the first Chiba gubernatorial election in 12 years that will not be joined by an incumbent. Current Chiba Governor Kensaku Morita, who is now in his third four-year term, has announced a decision to retire without seeking a fourth term. His current term is set to end in early April.
   Among key issues in the election will be measures to curb novel coronavirus infections and reconstruct the local economy, which has been damaged by the fallout of the epidemic, as well as disaster reduction.
   The eight candidates are Toshihito Kumagai, 43, former mayor of the city of Chiba, the prefecture's capital, Teruki Goto, 38, who runs his own business, 71-year-old doctor Kenichiro Kato, 57-year-old former prep school teacher Rie Kanamitsu, Shinichiro Minagawa, 66, former principal of a Chiba prefectural high school, Masayuki Seki, 41, a former member of the Chiba prefectural assembly, Masayuki Hiratsuka, 39, who heads a political group, and 40-year-old corporate manager Yusuke Kawai.