As the race for Taipei mayor heats up, Democratic Progressive Party candidate Puma Shen has said he is willing to consult former mayors — including Ko Wen-je — on city governance, softening his stance and sending a pragmatic signal to voters.

• Shen said that criticising someone is not the same as denying the things they got right.
• He singled out the social housing policy pursued during Ko Wen-je's term as well done, saying he wants to understand what obstacles it ran into at the time.
• He also said that he and Ma Ying-jeou differ greatly on national identity, but that city governance is city governance and the two matters should be viewed separately.
• A meeting with former president Chen Shui-bian is still being arranged and has not yet been confirmed.
• He criticised the Taipei City Government's smoke-free city policy for lacking supporting measures and a dedicated unit, adding that city councillors cannot even obtain data on it.

Outlook: With some time still to go before polling day, Shen is expected to continue visiting former mayors and former city government officials, making "continuing good policies" a central campaign appeal.