自公推薦の初宿氏初当選　野党支持候補ら破る―東京都八王子市長選

　任期満了に伴う東京都八王子市長選が２１日投開票され、無所属新人で元都職員の初宿和夫氏（５９）＝自民、公明推薦＝が、元都議の滝田泰彦氏（４１）＝立憲民主、共産、社民支持＝ら無所属新人４人を破り、初当選した。派閥の政治資金パーティー収入を巡る事件で自民への逆風が続く中、初宿氏が小池百合子都知事の応援も受け、激戦を制した。
　投票率は３８．６６％で、前回（３１．４６％）を上回った。
　初宿氏は、退任する現職の後継候補をアピールするとともに、都職員時代に危機管理に携わった実績などを強調。小池氏は当初、立場を明確にしていなかったが、選挙戦終盤に応援に入った。
　同市は、事件を巡り東京地検特捜部から事情聴取された自民党の萩生田光一前政調会長の選挙地盤だが、同氏は目立った応援を避けた。日本維新の会の地方支部「東京維新の会」も告示後、初宿氏の支援を決めた。
　滝田氏は、古い政治体質からの脱却を掲げたが、及ばなかった。元都議の両角穣氏（６１）、会社員の服部貴之氏（４０）、派遣社員のかまたたかゆき氏（５８）は伸び悩んだ。（2024/01/21-23:39）

A candidate backed by the Liberal Democratic Party-led ruling bloc in Japan's national politics won Sunday's mayoral election in Hachioji, Tokyo, despite the LDP facing a headwind over a high-profile slush funds scandal linked to fundraising party revenues at intraparty factions.
   In the closely contested election, Kazuo Shiyake, 59, a former employee at the Tokyo metropolitan government, secured the Hachioji mayoralty for the first time, beating his four rival candidates, including Yasuhiko Takita, 41, a former Tokyo metropolitan assembly member.
   Shiyake, who ran in the poll as an independent, was supported by the LDP and its coalition partner, Komeito.
   While touting himself as the successor to the city's outgoing mayor, Shiyake highlighted his track record of engaging in duties related to crisis management when he was working for the metropolitan government. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, who initially did not clarify her stance regarding the election, visited Hachioji to support Shiyake during the final stage of the campaigning.
   Former LDP Policy Research Council head Koichi Hagiuda, who was recently questioned by public prosecutors over the political funds scandal rocking LDP factions, refrained from active moves in support for Shiyake, although Hachioji is the electoral stronghold for the LDP bigwig, a lawmaker in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament.