Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) is viewed as the “strongest contender” to run for mayor of Taipei within the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), sources said, as the party’s Electoral Strategy Committee is set to convene today.
The committee is expected to discuss candidates for the mayoral and county commissioner elections this year, as the party’s Central Executive Committee reviews eligibility for city councilor nomination registrations on Wednesday, sources familiar with the matter said.
The DPP has not yet nominated candidates for this year’s local elections in Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu County, Hsinchu City, Hualien County, Kinmen County and Lienchiang County (Matsu).
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
For the Taipei mayoral race, the party has reached a consensus that Cheng would be the “strongest contender” to run, sources said.
The party is waiting for the “best timing” to make its choice, considering the uncertainty around US tariffs, they said.
The party has reached a consensus to nominate Jhubei City Mayor Cheng Chao-fang (鄭朝方) to run for Hsinchu County commissioner, they said, adding that his stance has softened after being persuaded by President William Lai (賴清德).
The DPP has not ruled out separately proceeding nominations for the mayoral and county commissioner races in Hsinchu, considering incumbent Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao’s (高虹安) return, they said.
The party is almost certain about its choice for Hualien County, they said, adding that it is likely to work with Hualien County Council Speaker Chang Chun (張峻).
For the Taoyuan mayoral race, Presidential Office Deputy
Secretary-General Mark Ho (何志偉), Deputy Minister of Justice Huang Shih-chieh (黃世杰) and DPP Legislator Wang Yi-chuan (王義川) are considered possible options, they said.
The DPP has to carefully mull its nominations to face the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) hold on northern Taiwan between Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安), Taipei Deputy City Mayor Lee Shu-chuan (李四川) and Taoyuan Mayor Simon Chang (張善政), they said.
DPP Legislator Su Chiao-hui (蘇巧慧), who has been selected as the party’s nominee to run in the New Taipei City mayoral race, is already steadily campaigning. The party believes strong candidates in Taipei and Taoyuan could significantly boost their prospects across northern Taiwan, they said.
For Kinmen and Matsu, the party does not rule out strategic cooperation, they said.
Penghu County Commissioner Chen Kuang-fu (陳光復) is considered to have a strong chance of reelection, they said.
The 70-year-old member of the DPP, who is recovering from a severe injury during the Lunar New Year, performed well in the role and has strong local recognition, they added.
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