Taipei mayoral campaigns entering the final stretch

• By Kan Meng-lin, Chen Cheng-yu and Jake Chung / Staff reporters, with staff writer

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Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen (沈伯洋) yesterday said he is ready to become mayor and hopes to serve Taipei residents for the next four years.

Shen said he has received much encouragement, many suggestions and some criticism over the past six months, adding that with election day less than three weeks away, residents are looking for a candidate who responds sincerely to their expectations.

Shen, who had continued to carry out his legislative duties since being nominated as the DPP’s Taipei mayoral candidate, campaigning in his spare time after work, said he would take leave from his post as a legislator from today to devote all of his time to campaigning.

Democratic Progressive Party Legislator and Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen talks to reporters at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday.

Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times

The decision mirrors that of his opponent, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) — who is seeking a second term and yesterday said he would take leave starting today.

Shen said he spent most of his campaign time visiting markets and walking the streets to hear people’s concerns and expectations.

He said that over the past few months, he had unveiled campaign platforms and policy proposals to help residents better understand his vision.

His opponent’s campaign machinery is already in full swing, he said.

Chiang has the backing of many KMT legislators, each of whom commands a considerable following, whereas his schedule has been so packed that he has had less time to post online, Shen said.

“We are really feeling very nervous about that gap,” he said.

Shen said he would attend the official policy presentation with Chiang on Saturday and adjust his schedule if it conflicts with the “O’Shen Festival” (洋流祭), a music event at 228 Memorial Park (二二八紀念公園) that his campaign has organized.

The presentation has no cross-examination and gives each candidate about 30 minutes to lay out their policies in full, so he plans to use the time to give an overview of his platform, Shen said.

Chiang yesterday said he would act in accordance with relevant regulations and continue to visit communities and talk with residents to win their support, while his city government team stays at their posts to ensure that municipal work is not affected.

Asked how he is preparing for the first official televised policy presentation in the Taipei mayoral race, Chiang said the presentation would run longer than usual, giving him time to lay out his record over the past four years, his specific vision for the next four and the city’s development.