He was a surprise winner in the campaign for the Kaohsiung mayoralty, as his opponent, Yu Chen Yeh-ying was an old hand around Kaohsiung Prefecture and widely known and respected.
現任高雄縣長蔡明耀在去年年底的縣長競選中，以黑馬姿態，反敗為勝，擊敗強勁的對手余陳月瑛，成為全省最年輕的百里侯。年輕從政，少年老成蔡明耀今年卅三歲，屬於「少年老成」型的人物。他在家中是長子，上有二位姊姊，下有弟妹三人。