Deputy Taipei Mayor Lee Shu-chuan resigns, eyes New Taipei top job

Taipei, Feb. 11 (CNA) Deputy Taipei Mayor Lee Shu-chuan (李四川), widely tipped to run for the Kuomintang (KMT) in November's New Taipei mayoral election, said Wednesday he will leave his current post at the end of the month.

Citing "public expectations" and opinion polls showing strong support for his potential candidacy, Lee said he planned to return to New Taipei, where he is a registered resident, to "prepare for the next stage of my political career."

Lee, who previously served as Executive Yuan secretary-general and as deputy mayor in three of Taiwan's six special municipalities, said that despite his experience in urban development and governance, he had yet to have the chance to directly implement his own vision for running a city.

However, Lee's call for a cooperative arrangement with the smaller Taiwan People's Party (TPP) in New Taipei on Nov. 26 was not immediately reciprocated by TPP candidate Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌).

Huang, the TPP's chairman, said he looked forward to a "constructive and mutually motivating contest" should Lee enter the race, describing his prospective rival as a respected and experienced public servant.

Lee's resignation is expected to take effect by the end of February.