Deputy Legislative Speaker Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) yesterday inaugurated his main campaign office in Taichung, while introducing a team led by experienced Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members.
Tsai is the DPP’s candidate challenging incumbent Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) in the Nov. 26 election.
During the launch, Tsai highlighted his 10 main programs to revitalize the city, which are the core of his election platform, and set a target to build 8,000 social housing units within four years, to compete with Lu’s goal of 5,000 units.
Photo: CNA
At the office in Nantun District (南屯), decked out in posters following the theme “Taichung Action,” Tsai introduced his campaign managers: DPP legislators Ho Hsin-chun (何欣純) and Chang Liao Wan-chien (張廖萬堅).
He also presented his communications team, which is to be led by DPP Legislator Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀), and includes Taichung city councilors Lin Te-yu (林德宇) and Huang Shou-ta (黃守達), while former Taiwan Statebuilding Party legislator Chen Po-wei (陳柏惟) is to be director of youth affairs.
Tsai invited the public to drop in at the office on Yifong Road Sec 4, which was converted from a large warehouse formerly used by a wedding banquet business.
People can have coffee or tea at the office, which also has a reading room for children and a stage for events, he said.
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), the DPP’s chairperson, on Friday attended a campaign rally for Tsai Chi-chang, and is reportedly planning to make more appearances in the city.
“The central government is ready to help rejuvenate ... all local governments, and Taichung is one of the main focuses in the coming years,” Tsai Ing-wen said.
Tsai Chi-chang is the best choice for Taichung mayor, as he has the drive and administrative experience to implement programs and is good at solving problems and getting things done, she said.
At recent campaign events, Tsai Chi-chang has castigated the Taichung city government, saying that under Lu’s guidance the city has seen no progress.
Many economic indices have declined, showing that Taichung is losing competitiveness, and Lu has done very little for city residents, Tsai Chi-chang said.
“We need change, for Taichung to improve, for people to have better livelihoods thanks to new projects and developments,” he said.
Lu lacks imagination and has no long-term vision, as she is just retreading the path of old KMT party politics, he said.
Taichung residents have seen no revitalization projects or plans for large projects, he said.
“Taichung cannot wait any longer, we must pick up the pace to catch up with other cities. This city has been in regression for four years, so we need a new action plan,” he said. “We have strong team members and a new vision for the city, and with diligent campaigning, we can win this race and win back Taichung.”
The party believes it has a good chance to defeat Lu, with proposals to improve development, and offer suitable social and family programs for the public, a DPP official said.
Meanwhile, KMT Taichung chapter director Yen Wen-cheng (顏文正) yesterday said that Lu is focused on her mayoral duties, so she would not start campaigning until October.
However, Lu would next week begin to attend smaller campaign events for KMT city councilor candidates, Yen added.
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