Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-cheng did not register his candidacy in person, instead asking campaign officials to do it for him — handing his opponent, the Democratic Progressive Party's Huang Shih-chieh, a ready-made line of attack.

• Chang is seeking re-election. His campaign headquarters chairman Huang Min-kung and Kuomintang legislator Tu Chuan-chi registered on his behalf at the election commission.
• The Chang camp's explanation is that city affairs come first and election matters can wait.
• Huang Shih-chieh's office hit back, saying Chang has no interest in governing, has coasted for four years, and could not even be bothered to register in person — arrogance, and a slight to the people of Taoyuan.
• Huang Shih-chieh will register at the election commission in person, and will immediately follow the registration with a motorcade tour of the streets, drawing a contrast.

Outlook: The Taoyuan mayoral election goes to the polls on 28 November, and both sides are likely to keep trading attacks over "who is taking this seriously" and their records on city governance in the near term.