Zhong Shuangwei
| Zhong Shuangwei | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Magistrate of Taohan Township | |
| Assumed office January 1st, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Darren Cai |
| Member of the Minzu Legislature | |
| In office March 3rd, 2016 – January 1st, 2020 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 3, 1959 --> |
| Nationality | Laeralian |
| Political party | Laeralian People's Party |
| Alma mater | University of Meilinis—Songshan, Laeralsford College of Dentistry |
Zhong Shuangwei is a Laeralian politician best known for his 2022 candidacy for president of Laeral in the Laeralian People's Party primary. Zhong worked as a dentist before founding the construction company Zhong & Sons Development, of which he continues to serve as CEO. Elected to the Minzu provincial legislature in 2016, Zhong made a bid for governor in 2020 yet was defeated in the People's Party primary. In 2020, he was also elected as magistrate of Taohan township, and in 2022 he ran as the sole candidate to challenge party leader Florian St. Marc for the LPP nomination for president, obtaining over 40% of primary votes.
Birth and Upbringing
Zhong Shuangwei was born in 1959 in Minzu, Laeral, to a politically-influential family: notably, his grandfather, Zhong Qiang, was elected as governor of Minzu in 1972 for the Progressive Party, and would serve three terms. The younger Zhong thus lived with his brothers in the Minzu governor's mansion until his grandfather's removal from office following allegations of state collusion with an illegal moonshine ring.
Career
Zhong attended the University of Meilinis at Songshan, majoring in Biochemistry, and received his Doctorate in Dental Medicine in 1985 from the Laeralsford College of Dentistry. After working briefly at a private practice in Avrainville, Zhong joined the Medical Youth Corps, a public-health non-profit, in 1988. He worked stints as a community dentist in Lijiang province, the Xueyan Special Administrative Region, and in rural Haesan.
Alongside brother Zhong Yuesheng and nephew Zhong Yongping, Zhong returned to Minzu to found the construction company Zhong & Sons Development in 1994. Beginning with few assets, the corporation eventually grew to great success, with over 600 employees as of 2022.
Electoral History
In 2016, Zhong attempted to challenge the incumbent governor of Minzu, Luo Tai, in the Laeralian People's Party primary. Although spending heavily to defeat the incumbent, whose approval ratings were poor even among members of his party, Zhong was defeated in the primary with 41% of the vote. Offered the nomination for Provincial Auditor as a consolation, Zhong declined and instead was elected to a safely LPP seat in the provincial legislature.