Transparency key in officials' election

Twenty-nine-year-old Zhou Senfeng may be the youngest mayor in China, but he does not break the world record. Last year, a US town Muskogee elected John Hammons, a 19-year-old freshman at the University of Oklahoma, as its mayor. Different from Hammons, however, Zhou's election as mayor of Yicheng in Hubei province has sparked a debate and created doubts in people's mind about the transparency in his selection process. Many netizens suspect he has a strong family background. An article in Xiaoxiang Morning Post explains the reasons behind such doubts and how to dismiss them. Excerpt:

Zhou Senfeng was elected mayor of Yicheng in Hubei province after releasing his resume to the local press. That some people still doubt his credentials only proves the process of publication of officials' resumes and the electoral procedure both have to be improved.

In recent years, the stipulation to publicize officials' resumes before they assume office has become widespread in China. But there have been cases in which the publication has become a mere formality.