New Taipei's year-end mayoral race is heating up, with the outgoing mayor openly picking a side while his rival tries to stay above the party fight.

• Sitting mayor Hou Yu-ih said his successor should be KMT candidate Lee Szu-chuan, and he is fully behind him.
• DPP candidate Su Chiao-hui refused to hit back, saying she and Hou have worked toward the same goals for the city from different posts.
• Su promised to build a city team that ignores party lines and pushes ahead on anything good for residents.
• She pointed to a highway interchange project in Wugu and Linkou, paid for by the central government and built with local help, that may open ahead of schedule.

Outlook: Expect Hou's endorsement to give Lee a boost, while Su keeps running a cooperation-first campaign into the year-end vote.