Candidates register for OrBorJor election

PHUKET CITY: Two of Phuket’s top political heavyweights yesterday morning registered their candidacies for presidency of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), along with 50 other candidates for the 24 council seats available.

The two rival candidates for the presidency, Anchalee Vanich Tephabutra and Paiboon Upatising, both arrived at Phuket Community Hall before its 8:30 am opening with supporters estimated at more than 1,000 people, evenly divided between the two camps.

K. Anchalee is a member of the locally powerful Democrat Party and a virtual incumbent, having resigned from the OrBorJor presidency about two weeks before the end of her term on March 13 so that she could campaign full time for the same position.

There to support her were Phuket’s two elected MPs, her husband Tossaporn Thepabutr and Rewat Areerob. Also cheering her on were other Democrat Party members, including 21 candidates for positions on the 24-seat council.

K. Anchalee said she would continue her current policy platform, which she said aims to improve the quality of life among Phuket residents through initiatives including better education and tourism development.

She also unveiled her new campaign slogan “Anchalee tam jing, kow tan loke, nam Phuket soo sakol“, which loosely states that her diligence will lead Phuket to world-class development status.

Insisting that it is not illegal for her to use her position in the Democrat Party in her campaign, K. Anchalee said the Democrat Party logo will appear prominently on her campaign material.

Also at the hall were supporters of former Phuket Senator Paiboon Upatising and 16 candidates from his OrBorJor Kon Baan Rao party, including former OrBorJor Vice-President Sorratham Jinda.

K. Paiboon, a fiscal conservative and developer of the Phuket Villa residential projects, said he had spent a great deal of time with Phuket residents since the end of his term as senator and that he wants to work hard and with honesty to improve the lives of all Phuket people.

As part of the registration process, K. Anchalee and K. Paiboon drew lots for candidacy numbers, drawing numbers 1 and 2, respectively.

The election will be held on Sunday, April 20.

As it is a provincial poll, the ban on alcohol sales as mandated under Election Commission law will go into effect across the island starting at 6 pm on Saturday, April 19, and ending at midnight Sunday, April 20, the Gazette has confirmed.