National Chenchi University professor Chou Li-fang (周麗芳) yesterday was appointed Taipei’s third deputy mayor, following a two-month search.
Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) praised Chou’s academic and administrative experience, expressing his confidence in her ability to shoulder responsibility for departments including education, labor, sports and cultural affairs, as well as events such as the 2016 World Design Capital and 2017 Universiade.
In addition to her academic career, Chou has served as director of the university’s Office of Research and Development and deputy chief executive of the National Health Insurance Administration.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
While Ko’s first two deputy mayors were appointed in December last year, his search for a third has been held up for almost two months after he was unable to find a willing candidate with strong corporate executive experience, something he earlier attributed to the low pay offered by the municipal government.
“Teachers do not make very much in the first place,” he said yesterday in response to question on whether Chou’s salary had been a sticking point.
Taipei spokesman Sidney Lin (林鶴明) said that Chou was chosen from among 56 valid candidates who applied online in response to a Facebook post by Ko.
“I am someone who is willing to face challenges,” Chou said when asked why she accepted the position, adding that she was drawn to the position because of her desire to outline a cultural vision for the capital’s future.
On coordinating the 2017 Universiade, Chou said she would emphasize frugality and honing the event’s message.
“We hope to economize as much as possible, while still maximizing the benefits of the event,” she said.
“When the competitors come to Taiwan, aside from the competition itself, we hope they will serve as bees that carry back a rich pollen of memories to their home countries, aiding our diplomacy,” she said.
Chou is viewed as pan-blue due to her title of “special researcher” to the National Policy Foundation, a think tank associated with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).
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