Lee and Ma move into final stretch

PHOTO: CHU PEI-HSIUNG, TAIPEI TIMES

DPP candidate Lee Ying-yuan (李應元) and Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) of the KMT both began their day bright and early yesterday to mark the first official day in their competition for the job of Taipei city mayor.

Yesterday began the official campaigning period stipulated by the Public Officials Election and Recall Law (公職人員選舉罷免法). According to the law, official campaign activities for the city's third mayoral election will run from yesterday to Dec. 6, the eve of the Dec. 7 Election Day.

At 6am yesterday morning, Lee arrived at Chingnien Park (青年公園) to meet with early birds and appeal to them to support his mayoral bid.

"Today kicked off the last 15 days in the run up to the Dec. 7 Election," Lee told his supporters. "Like all races and competitions, the winner will not be known until the last second.

"I will fight till the last second in my campaign for my mayoral bid," Lee told his supporters.

"Like all races and competitions, the winner will not be known until the last second."

Lee Ying-yuan, Taipei mayoral candidate

At 10am, Lee was back in his campaign headquarters delivering his policies on the city's metropolitan development, finance and disaster prevention.

At a press conference held to announce these policies, Lee pledged to develop Taipei City into one that is safe, clean and full of employment opportunities.

The policies proposed by Lee covered subjects such as enforcement of fines on those who violate pollution regulations, tourism development, strengthen water dredging system in residential communities and tightening controls on the development of hillside areas.

Lee rounded off his electioneering schedule with a campaign gathering last night at Shihda Park (師大公園), speaking to supporters about his policies and vision for the city.

Ma also started his day early, arriving at Chihshanyen (芝山岩) at 6am for a meeting with supporters before visiting early morning joggers and exercisers at Tienmu Park (天母公園).

Complying with the regulation stipulating by the Central Election Committee, Ma is taking a leave of absence from his mayoral duty during this 15-day official campaign period in order to fully devote his efforts to his re-election bid.

"Starting today till the eve of Election Day, I will run my campaign activities in my capacity, not as Taipei Mayor, but as a mayoral candidate," said Ma.

During this time, city governance will be attended by Deputy Taipei Mayor Ou Chin-der (歐晉德).

After visiting the park, and making an appearance at the campaign headquarters of KMT city councilor hopeful Chen Cheng-chung (陳政忠), Ma took part in a street procession in the Shetzu (社子) and Tienmu areas to appeal to supporters.

Ma wrapped up his campaign activities yesterday with a visit to the Shihlin Nightmarket.

When asked by media whether the Ma camp would stage march to drum up support for Ma's candidacy, Ma said such a plan is still under consideration.

"A large-scale march will pose quite an impact [and inconvenience] to the city's traffic," said Ma, adding that his campaign camp would soon make the decision on whether or not to take his campaign to the streets.