Chalermlak Tops Patong Balloting

PATONG: Businesswoman Chalermlak Kepsap of the Patong Progressive Party was the top vote-getter in last Sunday’s municipal election. The Patong Municipal Office announced that the 35-year-old Chalermlak, who campaigned for cleaner streets and building height limitations, received 2,850 votes. Pian Keesin of the Rak (Love) Patong Party received 2,474 votes. Dr Anan Anantanawat, who served as Patong Mayor until the City Council was dissolved on July 16, and who ran under the Pattana (Develop) Patong Party banner, finished 12th with 1,848 votes. Of the 7,185 eligible voters, 5,273 – or 73.3 percent – cast ballots. Election officials invalidated 270 of the 5,273 ballots after discovering irregularities, the municipality reported. The top twelve vote-getters, which also included four other members of the Patong Progressive Party and five Rak Patong Party candidates, will be seated as the new Patong City Council. The body will nominate a new mayor and submit the name to Phuket Governor Chadej Insawang within 90 days. Deputy Governor Mom Luang Chullaka Ngawnrot will lead the council until the new mayor is formally installed.