Fu began his political career as a member of the Kuomintang,[1] and served on the Miaoli County Council as deputy speaker.
[2][3] He won two terms as magistrate of Miaoli County as an independent, defeating incumbent Ho Chi-hui [zh] in 1997, and winning reelection in 2001.
[4][5] During Fu's tenure as county magistrate, the first two Miaoli International Mask Festivals were held in 1999 and 2001.
[7][8] During a crackdown on black gold politics in 2000, Fu was indicted on charges related to misappropriation of public funds dating back to his tenure as deputy speaker of the Miaoli County Council.
[2][3] Fu and Chen Chin-hsing were regarded as prominent Hakkas backing the 2000 presidential campaign of James Soong.