Lin Yu-yu joins race for KMT's Zhubei mayor nomination

Newcomer Lin Yu-yu, a county councilor, has thrown his hat into the ring for the Kuomintang's (KMT) nomination for Zhubei mayor. Announcing his candidacy at the KMT's Hsinchu County headquarters, Lin presented his platform centered on "city problems, I have solutions!" His entry escalates the competition for the KMT's selection, with the party and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) reportedly planning to jointly nominate a candidate for the mayoral race.

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City problems, I have solutions!

Lin directly challenged the TPP's choice for Zhubei mayor, former Hsinchu deputy mayor Chiu Chen-yuan. Lin argued that the TPP's local base in Zhubei is weak and expressed surprise at Chiu's limited public presence in the city over the past four years, aside from recent campaign efforts. He suggested that voter acceptance remains uncertain. Lin also outlined the principles of the KMT-TPP cooperation, stating that if the TPP candidate loses, their party should defer to the KMT, and vice versa. He indicated he would accept the outcome if the KMT were to lose the nomination process.

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The TPP's local base in Zhubei is very weak.

With a master's degree in clinical pharmacy, Lin unveiled his "all-ages happiness" vision for Zhubei. He plans to leverage his medical expertise, data governance, and quality of life reforms to address what he sees as Zhubei's long-standing imbalance of prioritizing construction over livability. Lin highlighted specific challenges: the western district suffers from insufficient urban renewal, parking shortages, traffic congestion, and uneven public infrastructure. The eastern district faces traffic bottlenecks due to rapid development in the high-speed rail zone, school district enrollment caps, commuting safety concerns, inadequate pedestrian environments, and a surge in demand for public spaces for families.

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If the TPP loses, they should defer to the KMT; if the KMT loses, I will have no objections.

Lin champions "health governance" and "comprehensive care" through initiatives like "Children's Medical Care 2.0," advocating for high-risk pregnancy green channels, newborn screening subsidies, and early childhood development support. He also supports expanding public childcare facilities, increasing quasi-public preschool slots, and reforming childcare supervision. His "elderly and child co-care" concept aims to reintegrate seniors into the community and foster intergenerational support. Furthermore, Lin proposes upgrading Zhubei into a "healthy city" by creating unique inclusive parks, outdoor sports facilities, and promoting bicycle and pedestrian-friendly environments. He also includes "pet-friendly city" policies, such as a pet-friendly map, improved stray animal adoption services, owner education, and public spaces welcoming pets.

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High-standard cities require leaders with international vision, governance capabilities, and practical experience.