In 1969, when Taipei was changed into a special municipality directly under the central government, Chang was abroad. Only when he returned home did he discover he had been nominated by the KMT to run in city council elections.
民國五十八年，台北市改制為院轄市，第一屆市議員選舉提名時，張建邦遠在英國開會，返國甫抵機場就被記者包圍，鎂光燈閃爍不停，他一問之下，才知已被國民黨提名參加競選。