The commissioner of Taipei City’s Department of Cultural Affairs, Lee Yong-ping (李永萍), will take over as deputy mayor, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) announced yesterday.
Lee, 45, was appointed by Hau to take over the position left vacant by new Minister of Education Wu Ching-chi (吳清基).
She will be the first female deputy mayor in the city’s history.
Hau said he expected Lee to communicate with Taipei City Council and the public, and improve the administration’s relations with councilors and boroughs.
“She keeps good relations with the council and I also need help to develop closer contacts with grassroots [groups] ... I have confidence in her abilities,” Hau said at the Taipei City Hall yesterday.
Hau made the announcement one day after the new council session began on Monday. Lee yesterday thanked the mayor for giving her the opportunity to serve the city, adding she would spare no effort to improve communication between the council and local boroughs.
“The Hau administration’s efforts were not largely recognized until the Deaflympics. I will put more energy into letting the public see the administration’s achievements and foster a sense of pride and honor among residents,” she said.
Some believe that Hau appointed Lee to help promote the administration’s image and to strengthen relations with grassroots [groups] ahead of the mayoral election next year, in which Hau will seek re-election.
Lee will take over the position next week and will double as commissioner for the time being, Hau said.
Lee received a bachelor’s degree in journalism at New York University and served as a People First Party legislator from 2002 until 2007.
In related news, Hau confirmed yesterday the resignation of Taipei City Department of Education commissioner Wu Ching-shan (吳清山), adding that Wu insisted on resigning because he had “completed his mission.”
Wu Ching-shan dismissed allegations that he resigned over “problematic” relations with Hau, who blamed errors during preparations for the Deaflympics on the Education Department.
“Academic research is my love,” he said, adding that he would return to Taipei Municipal University of Education after his resignation.
Wu Ching-shan took over as department commissioner in May last year after Wu Ching-chi was invited to serve as deputy mayor.
Hau said the new Education Department commissioner would be announced next week.
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