Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Yeh Yi-jin (葉宜津) yesterday joined a crowded DPP nomination race for Greater Tainan City mayor ahead of the year-end special municipality elections.
Launching her bid on International Woman’s Day yesterday, Yeh said the day had special significance for her as she believed more women should participate in politics. She is the only woman among the DPP and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) nominees in the city.
Pointing to a portrait of herself and former Tainan County commissioner Mark Chen (陳唐山), Yeh said that Chen had already pledged support for her campaign, adding that she hoped to continue the DPP’s record of placing women in government after the successful elections of female commissioners in both Yunlin and Chiayi counties.
Chen was previously vying for the nomination in Tainan, but dropped out in January citing a crowded playing field and the need for party unity.
The other four candidates who have publicly announced their intention to run are Tainan City Mayor Hsu Tain-tsair (?]), Tainan County Commissioner Su Huan-chih (蘇煥智) and DPP legislators Lee Chun-yee (李俊毅) and William Lai (賴清德). While Hsu, Su and Lee have picked up their registration papers, Lai is reportedly set to do so today.
The race has special significance for Hsu and Su as Tainan city and county will be merged following the December elections. Both have attempted to play on their administrative strengths, with Su saying yesterday that Hsu would be at a disadvantage as Tainan County was 12 times the size of Tainan City.
Registration in Tainan is expected to wrap up by Friday, with a final nomination list to be decided through opinion polls by May 19, party officials said.
RSS