Kaohsiung, May 17 (CNA) - Lai Jui-lung, a DPP legislator and Kaohsiung mayoral candidate, established the 'Kaohsiung Neighborhood Chiefs Support Headquarters' today, calling on chiefs from various districts to form a local support base. Lai stated that district-level support groups will be established successively to demonstrate unity. The launch event was attended by district chiefs and representatives, along with DPP legislators Lee Kun-tse, Hsu Chih-chieh, Lee Po-yi, and Kaohsiung City Council Speaker Kang Yu-cheng. Lai emphasized that urban governance must start from the neighborhood level, covering everything from public works and community care to disaster response. He pledged to be the staunchest supporter of the chiefs if elected, strengthening communication channels and support for their offices to better serve citizens. He urged for grassroots unity to continue Kaohsiung's progress, framing the 2026 election as a critical choice for the city's future. Hsu Chih-chieh expressed hope that Lai, as mayor, would implement AI applications and improve district administrator compensation. Lee Po-yi hoped Lai would continue to listen to grassroots voices to build Kaohsiung into a high-tech city. Kang Yu-cheng noted that the年底 election requires the collective effort of neighborhood chiefs to support Lai.