Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Ting Shou-chung (丁守中) yesterday announced that he intends to run for the office of the mayor of Taipei in 2014. Ting, who competed in the KMT’s primary for Taipei mayor in 2006, said he had followed the party’s rules in the past when seeking his nomination for the post.
“Unfortunately, the party had other people in mind,” the veteran lawmaker said.
Ting added that his campaign platform will focus on “major urban renewal, urban aesthetics and Taipei’s competitiveness.”
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
The municipal elections are considered mid-term elections in Taiwan.
Taipei — which has a population of 2.67 million — is viewed as a key indicator used to gauge the chances political parties have of winning the presidential election — set to be held in 2016.
The KMT has dominated Taipei’s mayoral elections since 1998 when the city’s second direct poll took place. Former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) of the Democratic Progressive Party won the first race in 1994.
However, Ting is not among the forerunners according to media speculation, with Vice Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) reported to enjoy the support of the KMT’s higher echelons.
Sean Lien (連勝文), one of the sons of former vice president Lien Chan (連戰), has also been reported as a mayoral hopeful. However, neither Jiang nor Sean Lien have announced their candidacy. Meanwhile, Ting’s colleague, KMT Legislator Alex Tsai (蔡正元), yesterday said he is “still considering” whether to compete.
Commenting on Ting’s announcement, Su Jun-pin (蘇俊賓), the KMT’s Organizational Development Committee director, said “we welcome all” party members to compete for nomination in the 2014 seven-in-one local elections. KMT Taipei Councilor Yang Shih-chiu (楊實秋) said in June that he also plans to throw his hat into the mayoral ring.
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