Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Shen Fu-hsiung (沈富雄) said yesterday that he is preparing to campaign for Taipei mayor, and that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) had expressed positive feelings on a Shen candidacy.
Unlike a number of high-profile DPP candidates who failed to be re-elected to the legislature last December, Shen has not served in any political or bureaucratic capacity since his loss.
Until now Shen has maintained a low profile on the question of running for Taipei mayor. However, in a story in a Chinese-language newspaper yesterday, he expressed a willingness to run for the post.
NO ANNOUNCEMENT
Shen said that he was not formally announcing his candidacy, but that he had been preparing for the election a long time, and that he had discussed the plan with Chen last week.
Shen said that Chen not only indicated a positive attitude toward his position but also gave him several "tips" on how to campaign in Taipei City.
"President Chen suggested that I consolidate traditional supporters in the pan-green camp first, and that it was not necessary to target voters occupying the middle ground," the former lawmaker said.
`NO REGRETS'
He said that he had been preparing for the election every day, and that no one else in the party would be better prepared.
"My preparation for municipal affairs is moving forward and will not stumble," Shen said. "But if I cannot join the campaign, then I will have no regrets."
DPP spokesman Cheng Wen-tsan (
TOO EARLY
"Recently, some good candidates from both the pan-green and pan-blue camps have come under a lot of discussion. However, it is too early to say whom the final candidates will be," Cheng said.
"At present, the DPP is focusing on the year-end elections for mayors and county commissioners. The mayoral elections of Taipei City and Kaohsiung City will be the focus in the following stage," he said.
DPP Legislator for Taipei City Hsiao Bi-khim (
POSSIBLE RIVALS
Former Mainland Affairs Council chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and former vice premier Yeh Chu-lan (葉菊蘭) are also considered strong possibilities for the maymayoral race.
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