“Running for mayor means keeping the fridge stocked too”: Ho Hsin-chun campaigns and shops at Xitun Market

“Running for mayor means keeping the fridge stocked too,” Ho Hsin-chun said as she took her campaign to Taichung’s Xitun Market. The mayoral candidate and legislator walked through the market seeking votes, greeting vendors and residents, and selecting fresh vegetables along the way.

Ho joked that her schedule had become even more demanding since registering as a mayoral candidate. She often does not get home until the evening, she said, so filling the refrigerator first means she can still cook a late-night meal after finishing the day’s events.

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Running for mayor means keeping the fridge stocked too!

Known as the “market lady,” Ho appeared at ease in the traditional market, a familiar setting where she exchanged greetings and chatted with stallholders. Several vendors welcomed her warmly. Her stop to buy produce during the canvassing gave the campaign visit an everyday, domestic feel rather than making it solely a political appearance.

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The market is the most direct place to hear public opinion.

Ho said she has always enjoyed visiting traditional markets. They offer the freshest ingredients, she said, but they are also the most direct place to hear public opinion. A comment from a vendor about vegetable prices, sales, family life or work income can provide a candid view of daily life.

“Every stall and every greeting may look like ordinary conversation, but they let me hear what residents care about most,” Ho said. She described the market as the most direct place to take the public’s pulse and an important way for her to understand how Taichung residents live.

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Every stall and every greeting may look like ordinary conversation, but they let me hear what residents care about most.