TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taipei 101 Chair Janet Chia (賈永婕) told lawmakers Wednesday she will not run for mayor of Taipei.
Incumbent Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) is running for a second term as the KMT candidate, but the DPP has not yet selected a candidate for the Nov. 28 elections. Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) and Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) have been mentioned by the media as potential contenders.
Chia faced questions from lawmakers Wednesday as part of a session focusing on state-run enterprises, per CNA. She chairs Taipei Financial Center Corporation, the company with close links to government entities operating Taipei 101.
KMT legislators argued she had been involved in several politically tinted activities recently, including the landmark building lighting its façade to mark the anniversary of the 228 Massacre. The opposition wondered whether her decisions were meant to pave the way for an election campaign.
Chia, who hails from the world of entertainment, strongly denied the suggestion. Running in any election was not part of her life planning, she said, adding she would not even daydream about elections.
