Taipei's mayoral race is heating up as the DPP challenger pushes for a debate and the incumbent brushes it off, a sign of confidence from a front-runner who sees no reason to share a stage.

• Shen Po-yang, the DPP candidate for Taipei mayor, publicly invited Mayor Chiang Wan-an to debate city policy.
• Chiang did not agree, saying only that he explains city business to residents every day.
• The election is under 100 days away, and Shen's campaign is gaining momentum.
• Chiang is leaning on his record instead: a top ranking in a national city competitiveness survey, a Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize award, new childbirth and egg-freezing subsidies, and a new stretch of the Xinyi rail line opening this week.
• Asked about former mayor Ko Wen-je calling Shen "too weak," Chiang declined to engage and said he is focused on running the city.

Outlook: Chiang looks set to keep avoiding a head-to-head debate and campaign on incumbency, while Shen keeps pressing for one.