Exclusive Interview: Chang Yao-chung, Former Chief of Staff to Mayor Chen, Brings Municipal Experience Back to Daliao and Linyuan

The race for Kaohsiung City Council is heating up, and in the fiercely competitive Daliao-Linyuan constituency, a young newcomer is drawing public attention. Chang Yao-chung, 31, affectionately known as 'Cuobian A-Chung' (Neighbor A-Chung), who served for seven years as a senior aide to Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai, is now entering the city council race with his accumulated administrative experience and passion for public service. He aims to convert his years of municipal governance into concrete momentum for local development.

Transitioning from a behind-the-scenes city official to a frontline political candidate, Chang has earned widespread recognition through his consistent grassroots outreach, deep community engagement, and active listening. He ranked first in the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) internal primary, demonstrating the growing influence of younger generations in public affairs and offering locals a glimpse of what next-generation politicians can achieve.

### Seven Years in City Hall: Carrying Forward a Legacy of Community Service

Despite his youth, Chang Yao-chung has long been immersed in public service. Raised in a household where both parents served as neighborhood leaders (lizhang) in Kaohsiung’s Sanmin District, he witnessed firsthand their tireless efforts—from fixing streetlights and drainage systems to resolving everyday neighborhood issues. This upbringing planted in him a lifelong commitment to serving the community.

After completing military service, he joined the Kaohsiung City Government and spent seven years working closely with Mayor Chen Chi-mai. During this time, he traveled across all 38 administrative districts of Kaohsiung, gaining extensive experience in cross-departmental coordination, policy implementation, local communication, and crisis management.

"The mayor always reminded us that while proposing ideas is important, what matters more is getting things done," said Chang. Those seven years taught him how to integrate resources and solve problems effectively, giving him a deep understanding of city government operations. Now, he hopes to combine administrative efficiency with grassroots service to truly address local challenges.

### Expanding Support Base: Aiming for the DPP’s Third Seat

Analyzing the political landscape of Daliao and Linyuan, Chang notes that while the Pan-Green camp enjoys strong support in presidential, legislative, and mayoral elections, the multi-member district system for city council elections often leads to vote-splitting and strategic vote allocation, preventing the DPP from securing seats proportional to its overall support.

"My goal isn’t just to mobilize existing supporters, but also to engage young voters, centrists, and those previously disengaged from politics," emphasized Chang. He believes that by adopting a different political style—one rooted in transparency and action—he can broaden the DPP’s base and help secure a third council seat for Daliao-Linyuan, bringing more diverse and youthful voices into local governance.

### Three Key Policy Pillars: Transportation, Environment, and Livability

Drawing on his years of municipal work, Chang has laid out three clear policy priorities:

- **Transportation Infrastructure and Road Safety**: As a major industrial hub, Daliao-Linyuan sees frequent heavy vehicle traffic, making road safety a top concern. Chang pledges to closely monitor the progress of National Highway No. 7, push for the timely completion of the Siaogang-Linyuan MRT line, and advocate for improvements at dangerous intersections, better road conditions, pedestrian-friendly environments, and safer school routes—ultimately creating a safer and more convenient transportation network.

- **Environmental Quality and Green Space Development**: Addressing air pollution and industrial safety concerns linked to petrochemical industries, Chang advocates for enhanced air quality monitoring, transparent data disclosure, and stricter safety regulations. He also plans to actively pursue the creation of more parks, recreational areas, and public facilities to improve residents’ quality of life, ensuring balanced urban development and environmental sustainability.

- **Livability and Local Development**: With ongoing MRT construction and the development of 384 units of social housing in Daliao, the region holds significant growth potential. Chang aims to lobby the city government for business incentives, attract commercial services, public childcare, and daily-life amenities so residents won’t need to travel to downtown for shopping, parenting, or leisure—building a more convenient and livable environment.

- **Bridging the Gap with Digital Engagement**: "Less rhetoric, more action; less confrontation, more dialogue." Embracing a new era of politics, Chang is committed to building a more efficient and transparent service model. Beyond face-to-face consultations, he uses LINE Official Account, Facebook fan page, and local online communities to promptly receive public complaints, provide legal advisory information, and track case progress—ensuring constituents stay informed in real time.

In recent years, he has also organized family-friendly events such as water play zones, charity activities, and community forums, encouraging young families to participate in civic affairs and raise awareness about transportation, childcare, housing, long-term care, and local development. "I hope ‘Cuobian A-Chung’ becomes more than just an election slogan—it should be the first person people think of when they face a problem," he said.

### Bridging City Hall and the Community

Looking ahead, Chang stated that if elected, he will continue pushing for transportation improvements, childcare and long-term care policies, environmental upgrades, and enhanced local amenities.

With deep knowledge of city government operations and a strong grasp of local needs, he aims to serve as the most effective bridge between the municipal government and the people. "I want to bring citizens’ voices into city hall and bring city resources back to Daliao and Linyuan," he emphasized. "I hope people remember Zhang Yao-zhong not for how much I’ve said, but because I’ve consistently delivered results—step by step—so every resident can feel real change."

From city aide to local candidate, Chang Yao-chung is determined to leverage his seven years of administrative experience, youthful energy, and lifelong service ethos to deepen his roots in the community, respond to residents’ expectations through concrete actions, and help Daliao and Linyuan embrace a brighter future. Endorsed by Legislator Lin Dai-hua, he is seen as a promising bridge between city government and local communities.