61: Voting on personnel matters by show of hands (Part 1)

Two days passed in a flash. Inside the meeting room of the County Party Committee, the Standing Committee meeting was held as scheduled at nine o'clock in the morning.

The main topic of the meeting was personnel issues. Personnel issues are absolutely the top priority in government work, and errors can lead to many problems.

Therefore, all the County Party Standing Committee Members were quite cautious about this matter.

They were all listening carefully as the Head of the Organization Department introduced the candidates.

After the Head of the Organization Department finished announcing the personal résumés of the three candidates, he added, “After comprehensive evaluations by our Organization Department, Comrade Wei Ting, the Deputy Secretary of Songshan Town, Comrade Zhang Zhenhua, the Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of Heping Town, and Comrade Lin Zifeng, the Town Mayor of Heping Town, all meet the criteria for promotion to Secretary of Heping Town.”

“Minister Zou, there is something I am very curious about, and I feel compelled to speak my mind. I hope you can enlighten me.”

Zhang Yuhan, the Head of the Propaganda Department, was the first to speak.

“Minister Zhang, please ask away. I will tell you everything I know, holding nothing back.”

Zou Dekai said with a smile. The two had a good relationship in private, and he knew her personality, so he spoke cooperatively.

“I'm a little curious! Both Comrade Wei Ting and Comrade Zhang Zhenhua are deputy section level cadres. Promoting them to Secretary of Heping Town is a significant advancement.

Comrade Lin Zifeng is the Town Mayor of Heping Town, a genuine section chief level cadre. Appointing him as Secretary could only be considered a marginal promotion, right?

The reason I say this is because his rank hasn't changed!

We are all cadres who have been in Officialdom for many years. Judging by the order in which you introduced the three, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Lin Zifeng is merely running alongside the first two.

Do you all think it's appropriate for a section chief level cadre to run alongside two deputy section level cadres?

In terms of ensuring a smooth transition in Heping Town, I think Lin Zifeng's transfer to Secretary is the most suitable option.

Why did your Organization Department arrange the sequence this way? It truly surprises me.”

Zhang Yuhan spoke in her usual straightforward manner.

Hearing what Zhang Yuhan said, Xu Yanjun and Xu Minghao, who had already been promoted to Executive Deputy County Mayor, were simultaneously shocked. They muttered internally, “This is going to be bad.”

It turned out that Wei Ting was recommended by Xu Yanjun, and Zhang Zhenhua's backer was none other than Xu Minghao.

Everyone knew clearly that Lin Zifeng was just there to run alongside the two others.

This was the result of mutual compromise after a round of competition among various parties.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Yuhan, who never plays by the rules, came in and immediately muddied the waters.

Seeing that Zou Dekai was asked a question and seemed unsure how to respond, Xu Yanjun spoke up.

“Minister Zhang, Comrade Lin Zifeng only took office as Town Mayor of Heping Town two months ago. Adjusting his position again after such a short period might affect the work.

The fact that he is one of the candidates is already recognition of his work.”

“I cannot agree with Secretary Xu's view. If his work is recognized, yet he is just a placeholder, what kind of logic is that?”

Zhang Yuhan showed no weakness.

Seeing the meeting start with such intense tension, Wan Guoliang smiled and mediated.

“Since this is the Standing Committee, every Standing Committee Member has the right to express their opinion.

I think this unspoken practice of using placeholders can be changed. Since they are candidates selected by the Organization Department, they all have the right and qualification to be elected.

How about this: today, we change the rules and hold a vote for every candidate.

The one with the highest number of votes will win among the three and take up the position of Secretary of Heping Town.

Of course, if the highest vote-getter does not receive more than half of the votes, the decision is void, and we will conduct further research on another day.”

Hearing the decision made by Wan Guoliang, everyone nodded slightly in agreement.

Only Xu Yanjun was filled with regret. Originally, this list of candidates from the Organization Department had been approved by him, their direct superior.

The reason he agreed was so that his old subordinate, Wei Ting, would not only become the Secretary of Heping Town but also have Lin Zifeng, the Town Mayor, serve as her placeholder.

Once the news got out that Lin Zifeng lost to Wei Ting in the Standing Committee, it would allow Wei Ting to suppress Lin Zifeng in Heping Town.

He never expected that his little scheme would backfire.

If he had known this earlier, he definitely wouldn't have allowed Lin Zifeng to appear on the candidate list.

What he didn't know was that he couldn't have done that even if he wanted to.

Because Wan Guoliang had instructed that Lin Zifeng be a candidate. How could Zou Dekai dare to defy the will of the new top leader?

Even the current situation was planned by Wan Guoliang and Zhang Yuhan in advance.

This was also the reason why the Standing Committee meeting had been delayed for so long.

Wan Guoliang knew that since he had just arrived in Yushu County and his foundation was unstable, it would not be easy to achieve his intentions regarding personnel authority, which is why he used this Covert Maneuver.

At this point, Wan Guoliang spoke: “Next, we will proceed with a show of hands. Those who agree for Comrade Wei Ting to take the position of Party Secretary of Heping Town, please raise your hands.”

Xu Yanjun was the first to raise his hand, followed closely by Zou Dekai. Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission Li Minghao and the newly promoted Standing Committee Member and Deputy County Mayor Li Yang also raised their hands one after another.

Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission Qiao Zhenyu hesitated for a moment, then also raised his hand.

In the end, Wei Ting received five votes, not even reaching half.

Xu Yanjun's face darkened. After Wan Guoliang announced the result, he lowered his hand with a grim expression.

Seeing the voting result, Xu Minghao was secretly delighted. Since the candidate recommended by Xu Yanjun didn't even pass the halfway mark, the chances for Zhang Zhenhua, whom he recommended, were much greater.

Thinking this, he looked expectantly at Wan Guoliang.

Wan Guoliang did not make him wait too long and continued, “Those who agree for Comrade Zhang Zhenhua to take the position of Party Secretary of Heping Town, please raise your hands.”

This time, Xu Minghao impatiently raised his hand, then looked at the crowd with anticipation.

Zou Dekai raised his hand again. Since these were all candidates approved by him, he wouldn't undermine himself.

Everyone understood his posture: he would raise his hand in favor of every candidate, and he would do the same when it came time to vote for Lin Zifeng.

Li Yang also raised his hand again, showing his support.

Qian Dagang thought for a moment and chose to cast his vote in support of his Deputy.

In the end, Zhang Zhenhua only received four votes, one fewer than Wei Ting. This deflated Xu Minghao, who had not expected such a result.

He thought everyone who hadn't supported Xu Yanjun would choose to support him! Facts proved he was overthinking things.

Xu Yanjun looked at him with a hint of schadenfreude, thinking to himself, “You fool, you were just gloating, and now you're stunned, aren't you?”

The two of us were fighting like the snipe and the clam, allowing the fisherman to profit. I only just realized this myself.

It seems this new Secretary Wan has schemed against us all. He is clearly intending to promote Lin Zifeng!

Lin Zifeng's victory would also represent Wan Guoliang's victory in his first Standing Committee meeting.

This Wan Guoliang is quite deep-minded. When did Zhang Yuhan hook up with him?

It's very obvious! Those two just put on a show!

What he didn't know was that both of them belonged to the Faction of Jiang Shiyu, and they were already familiar with each other, having dealt with each other many times.

When Wan Guoliang came to Yushu County to take office, Zhang Yuhan was his most reliable ally.

Just as Xu Yanjun was lost in thought, Wan Guoliang announced the result.