Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Legislator Ann Kao (高虹安) has been selected by her party to run for Hsinchu mayor in November’s local elections, TPP chairman and Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said yesterday.
The TPP’s central committee met earlier in the day to choose the 13 mayoral candidates for the Nov. 26 vote.
“I was born and raised in Hsinchu, and even today, my parents and siblings — as well as many relatives, friends and former classmates — still live in Hsinchu,” Ko told a news conference held after the meeting. “I have a special feeling for Hsinchu, and I want it to become a better city.”
Photo: Lo Pei-de, Taipei Times
Hsinchu is the technology capital of Taiwan, and improvement of the city would drive the development of other cities and counties, he added.
“The mayor of Hsinchu should have a brain that understands technology, the spirit of enterprise, a kind nature and the ability to break away from traditional politics, and bring a breath of fresh air to the city and the whole nation,” Ko said.
The committee considered Kao’s doctorate-level education and extensive corporate experience in its decision to nominate her, Ko said.
Kao’s sharp questions in legislative sessions during her term demonstrates her knowledge and ability to research issues, Ko said, adding that her work for constituents in Hsinchu has been appreciated by local residents.
“She is hardworking and always tries to do her best. She has plans and knows how to implement them diligently,” he said.
Kao quoted Archimedes in part when she addressed the news conference: “Give me a place to stand and I shall move the Earth.”
She said her experience in the private sector and as a legislator would help her run a practical administration, and make Hsinchu a better place where residents can live happily and with dignity.
Kao said her nomination for mayor is supported by her former boss, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co founder Terry Gou (郭台銘).
‘NON-RED’: Taiwan and Ireland should work together to foster a values-driven, democratic economic system, leveraging their complementary industries, Lai said President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday expressed hopes for closer ties between Taiwan and Ireland, and that both countries could collaborate to create a values-driven, democracy-centered economic system. He made the remarks while meeting with an Irish cross-party parliamentary delegation visiting Taiwan. The delegation, led by John McGuinness, deputy speaker of the Irish house of representatives, known as the Dail, includes Irish lawmakers Malcolm Byrne, Barry Ward, Ken O’Flynn and Teresa Costello. McGuinness, who chairs the Ireland-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Association, is a friend of Taiwan, and under his leadership, the association’s influence has grown over the past few years, Lai said. Ireland is
FINAL COUNTDOWN: About 50,000 attended a pro-recall rally yesterday, while the KMT and the TPP plan to rally against the recall votes today Democracy activists, together with arts and education representatives, yesterday organized a motorcade, while thousands gathered on Ketagalan Boulevard in Taipei in the evening in support of tomorrow’s recall votes. Recall votes for 24 Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers and suspended Hsinchu City mayor Ann Kao (高虹安) are to be held tomorrow, while recall votes for seven other KMT lawmakers are scheduled for Aug. 23. The afternoon motorcade was led by the Spring Breeze Culture and Arts Foundation, the Tyzen Hsiao Foundation and the Friends of Lee Teng-hui Association, and was joined by delegates from the Taiwan Statebuilding Party and the Taiwan Solidarity
An SOS message in a bottle has been found in Ireland that is believed to have come from the Taiwanese captain of fishing vessel Yong Yu Sing No. 18 (永裕興18號), who has been missing without a trace for over four years, along with nine Indonesian crew members. The vessel, registered to Suao (蘇澳), went missing near Hawaii on Dec. 30, 2020. The ship has since been recovered, but the 10 crew members have never been found. The captain, surnamed Lee (李), is believed to have signed the note with his name. A post appeared on Reddit on Tuesday after a man
A saleswoman, surnamed Chen (陳), earlier this month was handed an 18-month prison term for embezzling more than 2,000 pairs of shoes while working at a department store in Tainan. The Tainan District Court convicted Chen of embezzlement in a ruling on July 7, sentencing her to prison for illegally profiting NT$7.32 million (US$248,929) at the expense of her employer. Chen was also given the opportunity to reach a financial settlement, but she declined. Chen was responsible for the sales counter of Nike shoes at Tainan’s Shinkong Mitsukoshi Zhongshan branch, where she had been employed since October 2019. She had previously worked