TV personality Belle Yu (于美人) yesterday said she had turned down an offer by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to run as a legislative candidate in Taipei’s Daan District (大安).
Reports said the proposal for Yu’s nomination came in response to the possibility that former baseball star Chao Shih-chiang (趙士強), the original DPP candidate for Daan District, had changed his mind about running.
Chao’s mother, who is from China, had voiced her disapproval, reports said.
Photo: Hu Shun-hsiang, Taipei Times
In an interview, DPP spokesman Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) confirmed that an offer had been extended to Chao.
Chen said Chao was an extremely capable person, but whether he would represent the DPP in the election would depend on his family and coordination within the party.
Yu and Chao both have a good public image and would be ideal candidates to promote reforms in either sports or social policy, Chen said earlier in the day.
He added that the party was willing to provide the necessary resources to ensure a successful campaign.
However, the party would respect the wishes of potential candidates, Chen said.
Meanwhile, Chen said the official electoral headquarters for DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) would be established in September or October, in Banciao, New Taipei City (新北市), while a temporary electoral office would be opened at the start of July, possibly on Changan E Rd or as part of party headquarters.
The party’s nomination list for legislators-at-large will be passed by the Central Executive Committee tomorrow, Chen said.
Translated by Jake Chung, Staff Writer
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