Lai tops Taiwan mayoral performance survey

2015-04-02

Tainan City Mayor William Lai ranks No. 1 among the heads of Taiwan’s six special municipalities in a resident satisfaction poll released March 30 by Taipei City-based TVBS Inc.

Conducted March 10-23 in each of the cities, the telephone survey involving 820 to 852 adults used nine criteria to assess resident approval of their mayors’ performance during the first 100 days in office.

A total of 76 percent of respondents in Tainan gave Lai the thumbs-up, with 8 percent expressing dissatisfaction. In Taipei City, Mayor Ko Wen-je came in second at 70 percent. He was followed by Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chu at 68 percent, New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu at 50 percent, Taichung City Mayor Lin Chia-lung at 43 percent and Taoyuan City Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan at 42 percent.

Lai also led the pack in integrity at 78 percent, crisis management at 75 percent, understanding public opinion at 71 percent, and communication and coordination at 69 percent.

A further 81 percent of Tainan respondents believe Lai is capable of delivering good governance, 80 percent are proud of their city and 69 percent have no complaints with local government administration. All three numbers are the highest in their respective categories.

The second best performer overall was Chen Chu, who trailed Lai in six of the nine categories and ranked third in the remaining three.

In terms of boldness and determination, Ko claimed to spot with 83 percent and was runner-up to Lai in integrity. He ranked third in four categories and finished last in communication and coordination.

Eric Chu, the only mayor from the ruling Kuomintang, came third in communication and coordination and fourth in five categories. He brought up the rear in inducing a sense of pride and the prospect of delivering good governance.

In a nationwide Internet poll conducted by Taipei-headquartered website Dailyview since the six mayors were sworn in Dec. 25, 2014, Chen Chu led her rivals with a satisfaction rate of 64.58 percent. She was trailed by Lai at 55.94 percent and Ko at 46.28 percent. But Ko is the runaway leader in Internet notability, followed by Chu and Lai.

Another survey released a day later by Taipei-based Ming Chuan University found 83.49 percent of 1,084 city residents are satisfied with Ko’s overall performance, and 79 percent have confidence in his administration going forward.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=228923&CtNode=413)