TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The DPP was planning to name Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) as its candidate for mayor of Taipei, reports said Saturday.

A party meeting scheduled for April 7 will discuss candidates for the Nov. 28 elections in four cities and counties, according to an unnamed DPP source in a CNA report.

In addition to Shen, the DPP was considering tapping Deputy Justice Minister Huang Shih-chieh (黃世杰) for mayor of Taoyuan, former Legislator Chuang Ching-cheng (莊競程) for mayor of Hsinchu City, and Zhubei Mayor Cheng Chao-fang (鄭朝方) for Hsinchu County magistrate.

Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) had been the favorite choice for Taipei mayor due to her key role in tariff negotiations with the US. However, because of the US Supreme Court ruling against the tariffs, her task was now being seen as uncompleted. She would be more needed for talks with the US, rather than for an election campaign in Taipei, reports said.

Even though Shen was reportedly willing to run for mayor, opinions within the DPP were divided about his role. One school of thinking saw him as unable to lead city council candidates to victory in his wake, while another group regarded Shen, 43, as symbolic for a fresh approach and for a more international vision.

While the DPP candidate selection committee was planning to discuss a choice for Taipei on Tuesday, it might still take one or two weeks before the party reached a final decision, the report said. The DPP candidate will face KMT incumbent Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安), 47, in the election.