POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS:Supporters of Tainan Mayor William Lai of the DPP have been urging him to ‘take his political career to the next level,’ Tainan sources said

Taipei Times
Date:  Apr 29, 2015
By: Tang Tsai-hsin, Hung Jui-chin and Chen Wei-han  /  Staff reporters, with staff writer

Rumors are circulating in Tainan political circles that Tainan Mayor William Lai (賴清德) is considering running for New Taipei City mayor should New Taipei City Mayor and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) announce a bid for next year’s presidential election, while Lai’s ambiguous response to the rumor yesterday served only to further speculation.

“I have not yet decided [whether to run for New Taipei City mayor],” Lai said. “It seems like someone [intentionally] spread the rumor to hold Chu back from giving up his position and running for president… I do not want to spoil the effect of the rumor by giving a specific statement.”

“I’ve never said that I would serve out my four-year term. What I said was: ‘I would do my best to manage city affairs,’” Lai added.     [FULL  STORY]