TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei appointed a new mayor on Wednesday (Sept. 25) as the city’s population hovers just over the threshold needed for the extra deputy.

Taipei City Government said official Chang Wen-te (張溫德) will serve as deputy mayor alongside Lee Shu-chuan (李四川) and Lin Yi-hua (林奕華), per CNA. The city said Chang has a master’s degree in urban planning and has been an advisor to many city government departments.

Chang’s previous role in charge of municipal planning, policy and research, will be taken on by Yu Chen-hua (俞振華), the city said. Yu is a PhD holder who studied in the US and has worked as a researcher for universities and other city governments.

After the announcement, Lee was asked by reporters if the appointment of his new colleague signified he was preparing to run for mayor, but brushed off the suggestion. “You are thinking too much,” he said.

“I have often said that elections are not an option for me,” Lee said. He added that Chang is a good candidate for the role of deputy mayor as he is familiar with coordination and liaising with the government.

Taipei’s population is over 2.5 million, meaning it can appoint one extra deputy mayor, on top of the two it is already allowed to be a special municipality.

However, the city’s population has fallen every month this year to 2.502 million by the end of August. City statistics indicate the population will continue to fall to below 2.5 million, possibly within months.