In 1983, Chang entered the by-election for Chiayi mayor, winning the race and serving the first two mayoral terms following the city's placement under the jurisdiction of the provincial government. She then took up the challenge of running for legislator, emerging victorious, and when Hau Pei-tsun put his cabinet together in 1990, Chang was enlisted to serve as director of the Department of Health.
民國七十二年，張博雅以學者身分投入市長補選，當選為第一、第二屆改制為省轄市的嘉義市長，接著她轉換跑道參選立委，民國七十九年郝柏村組閣，張博雅被延攬入閣擔任衛生署長。