TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) on Wednesday urged the Kuomintang to accelerate its selection of a Taichung mayoral candidate.

Chiang said the Democratic Progressive Party has already nominated its candidate, Legislator Ho Hsin-chun (何欣純), making time a critical factor, per Liberty Times. He said uncertainty over the KMT nomination, which could shape Taichung’s future, has unsettled the party’s base.

While expressing confidence in the party leadership, Chiang said the KMT must take concrete steps to address supporters’ concerns. He called for a swift and transparent nomination process to keep supporters informed and help build party unity.

Sources within the KMT’s Taichung City chapter said there is internal consensus to complete the candidate selection process before the end of January, per UDN. They added that campaign billboards by city councilors, expected to go up between March and April, would follow the party’s mayoral nomination.

Ho opened her first campaign office Monday in Nantun District, part of the old Taichung City area, per Liberty Times. She said that if elected, she would offer tax rebates and continue what she described as the effective policies of incumbent Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕).

Chiang and KMT Legislator Yang Chiung-ying (楊瓊瓔), who is also seeking the party’s nomination, both responded to Ho’s announcement, per UDN. Chiang said he has already established offices across Taichung to better serve local communities.

Yang called on Ho to address what she described as the central government’s blocking of funds allocated to Taichung.

Lu has remained neutral toward the two potential KMT candidates. Asked about the Taichung party branch’s progress, Lu said she has confidence in the fairness of the process and that the party will ultimately select the strongest candidate, per CNA.