William Lai
Encyclopedia
William Lai Ching-te is the mayor of Tainan
, Taiwan
. He took office in the newly created municipality, formed from the merger of Tainan City and Tainan County
, on 25 December 2010. He served as a legislator in the Legislative Yuan from 1999 to 2010.
(now New Taipei City) on October 6 1959, Lai underwent schooling in Taipei City and studied at both National Cheng Kung University
in Tainan and National Taiwan University
in Taipei, where he specialized in rehabilitation. Lai then studied at the Harvard School of Public Health
for a Masters degree in public health, followed by an internship at National Cheng Kung University Hospital. He became an expert on spinal cord damage and served as a national consultant for such injuries.
's unsuccessful electoral bid for Governor of Taiwan Province in 1994, Lai decided to enter politics himself. The next opportunity for election to a national body was the 1996 National Assembly
, with Lai winning a seat representing Tainan City. Lai then stood as a candidate in the 1998 Legislative Yuan election
, representing the Democratic Progressive Party
in the second ward of Tainan City. He was successful in this election, and subsequently was reelected three times in 2001, 2004, and 2008
. In total he served 11 years as a legislator, and was selected as Taiwan's "Best Legislator" four times in a row by Taipei
-based NGO Citizen Congress Watch.
were amalgamated into a single municipality, called Tainan
. After successfully being selected in the Democratic Progressive Party
(DPP) primaries in January 2010, Lai stood as the DPP candidate for the mayoral election
on 27 November 2010, gaining 60.41% to defeat Kuomintang
candidate Kuo Tien-tsai. He took office on 25 December 2010.
Tainan
Tainan City is a city in southern Taiwan. It is the fifth largest after New Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Taipei. It was formerly a provincial city, and in 2010, the provincial city merged with the adjacent Tainan County to form a single special municipality. Tainan faces the Taiwan Strait in...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. He took office in the newly created municipality, formed from the merger of Tainan City and Tainan County
Tainan County
Tainan County was located in southern Taiwan. The name "Tainan" means "Southern Taiwan". Formerly a county of the Republic of China , Tainan County was merged with Tainan City at the end of 2010 to form a single special municipality....
, on 25 December 2010. He served as a legislator in the Legislative Yuan from 1999 to 2010.
Pre-political life
Born in Wanli, a rural coastal town in northern Taipei CountyTaipei County
New Taipei City is the most populous city of Taiwan. The area includes a substantial stretch of Taiwan's northern coastline and surrounds the Taipei Basin...
(now New Taipei City) on October 6 1959, Lai underwent schooling in Taipei City and studied at both National Cheng Kung University
National Cheng Kung University
National Cheng Kung University is a national university in Tainan City, Taiwan. Its abbreviation is NCKU. In Chinese, its name is shortened to 成大...
in Tainan and National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University is a national co-educational university located in Taipei, Republic of China . In Taiwan, it is colloquially known as "Táidà" . Its main campus is set upon 1,086,167 square meters in Taipei's Da'an District. In addition, the university has 6 other campuses in Taiwan,...
in Taipei, where he specialized in rehabilitation. Lai then studied at the Harvard School of Public Health
Harvard School of Public Health
The Harvard School of Public Health is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University, located in the Longwood Area of the Boston, Massachusetts neighborhood of Mission Hill, which is next to Harvard Medical School. HSPH is considered a significant school focusing on health in the...
for a Masters degree in public health, followed by an internship at National Cheng Kung University Hospital. He became an expert on spinal cord damage and served as a national consultant for such injuries.
National Assembly and Legislative Yuan
After serving as part of the support team for Chen Ding-nanChen Ding-nan
Chen Ding-Nan was a Taiwanese politician.-Entry into politics:As a Yilan County native, Chen received a bachelor's degree in Law from the National Taiwan University in 1966. After graduation Chen ran various business in Yilan...
's unsuccessful electoral bid for Governor of Taiwan Province in 1994, Lai decided to enter politics himself. The next opportunity for election to a national body was the 1996 National Assembly
National Assembly of the Republic of China
The National Assembly of the Republic of China refers to several parliamentary bodies that existed in the Republic of China. The National Assembly was originally founded in 1913 as the first legislature in Chinese history, but was disbanded less than a year later as President Yuan Shikai assumed...
, with Lai winning a seat representing Tainan City. Lai then stood as a candidate in the 1998 Legislative Yuan election
Republic of China legislative election, 1998
Legislative elections were held in the Republic of China on 5 December 1998. The result was a victory for the Kuomintang, which won 123 of the 225 seats. Voter turnout was 68.1%.-Results:...
, representing the Democratic Progressive Party
Democratic Progressive Party
The Democratic Progressive Party is a political party in Taiwan, and the dominant party in the Pan-Green Coalition. Founded in 1986, DPP is the first meaningful opposition party in Taiwan. It has traditionally been associated with strong advocacy of human rights and a distinct Taiwanese identity,...
in the second ward of Tainan City. He was successful in this election, and subsequently was reelected three times in 2001, 2004, and 2008
Republic of China legislative election, 2008
The 7th Legislative elections were held on January 12, 2008 in the Republic of China . The results gave the Kuomintang and the Pan-Blue Coalition a supermajority in the legislature, handing a heavy defeat to then-President Chen Shui-bian's Democratic Progressive Party, which won the remaining 27...
. In total he served 11 years as a legislator, and was selected as Taiwan's "Best Legislator" four times in a row by Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
-based NGO Citizen Congress Watch.
2010 Tainan mayoral election
With the 2010 reorganization of the municipalities in Taiwan, Tainan City and Tainan CountyTainan County
Tainan County was located in southern Taiwan. The name "Tainan" means "Southern Taiwan". Formerly a county of the Republic of China , Tainan County was merged with Tainan City at the end of 2010 to form a single special municipality....
were amalgamated into a single municipality, called Tainan
Tainan
Tainan City is a city in southern Taiwan. It is the fifth largest after New Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Taipei. It was formerly a provincial city, and in 2010, the provincial city merged with the adjacent Tainan County to form a single special municipality. Tainan faces the Taiwan Strait in...
. After successfully being selected in the Democratic Progressive Party
Democratic Progressive Party
The Democratic Progressive Party is a political party in Taiwan, and the dominant party in the Pan-Green Coalition. Founded in 1986, DPP is the first meaningful opposition party in Taiwan. It has traditionally been associated with strong advocacy of human rights and a distinct Taiwanese identity,...
(DPP) primaries in January 2010, Lai stood as the DPP candidate for the mayoral election
Republic of China municipal elections, 2010
-Predictions:-Municipal Mayoral Election:-Municipal Councilmen Election:-Ward Chiefs Election:-Electoral background:New Taipei was promoted into a central municipality, and replaced Taipei City as the largest city of Taiwan...
on 27 November 2010, gaining 60.41% to defeat Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
candidate Kuo Tien-tsai. He took office on 25 December 2010.
| Party | # | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic Progressive Party Democratic Progressive Party The Democratic Progressive Party is a political party in Taiwan, and the dominant party in the Pan-Green Coalition. Founded in 1986, DPP is the first meaningful opposition party in Taiwan. It has traditionally been associated with strong advocacy of human rights and a distinct Taiwanese identity,... |
2 | William Lai Ching-te (賴清德) | 619,897 | 60.41% | ||
 Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)Kuomintang The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused... |
1 | Kuo Tien-tsai (郭添財) | 406,196 | 39.59% | ||
| Total | 1,026,093 | 100.00% | ||||