The mayoral election of Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture, where the US military Futenma base will be relocated, will be announced on the 16th.
A total of two people, an incumbent and a newcomer, are planning to run for candidacy, and it is expected that there will be a debate over how to respond to the plan to move to Henoko, Nago City, and measures against the new coronavirus.
The candidates for the Nago Mayoral election due to the expiration of their term are
▽ unaffiliated incumbents aiming for the second term, Mr. Taketoyo Toguchi (60) recommended by the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito Party, and
▽ unaffiliated newcomers, the Constitutional Democratic Party, They are Yohei Kishimoto (49), a member of the Nago City Council recommended by the Komeito Party, the Reiwa Shinsengumi, the Social Democratic Party, and the Okinawa Social Mass Party.
Relocation work is underway at Henoko, Nago City, where the U.S. military Futenma base is being relocated, but Okinawa Prefecture has disapproved the design change submitted by the government in response to the discovery of soft ground at the planned landfill site. In response to this, the Ministry of Defense has taken countermeasures, and the conflict between the national and prefectural governments continues.
Regarding this, incumbent Toguchi Toguchi said, "We have no choice but to watch the transition until the conflict between the country and Okinawa Prefecture is settled," while newcomer Kishimoto said, "It is impossible to improve the soft ground at the relocation destination. The relocation work is not expected to be completed and should be stopped immediately. "The response to this issue is expected to be one of the issues.
Furthermore, in the election campaign, in addition to measures against the new coronavirus and child-rearing support measures, it is expected that there will be a debate over regional development such as revitalization of urban areas.
In Okinawa, following the mayoral election, a governor's election is scheduled by autumn, and the results of the series of elections may influence the progress of the relocation plan in the future.
Voting will take place on the 23rd of this month and will be counted the same day.