“Gee’ ready for senate race

PHUKET CITY: Former senator-elect Thanyarat “Gee” Achariyachai is the only candidate thus far registered to run in the senatorial election to take place in Phuket on March 2.

K. Thanyarat arrived at Phuket Community Hall with her husband and supporters on the morning of January 21, the first day of the five-day registration period.

She was given candidate number “1” by the Phuket Election Committee (PEC).

When the registration office closed at 4:30 pm today, she remained the only candidate.

Thanyarat was elected as Phuket’s first female senator in polling on April 19, 2006.

However, political turmoil and the subsequent crisis in the Election Commission made it impossible for the new senate to convene. Both the upper and lower houses were dissolved in the military coup that took place September 19, 2006.

After registering her candidacy, K. Thanyarat told reporters that she was sad and discouraged at not being able to take office in 2006, but that she was still determined to represent the people of Phuket in the Upper House.

As Phuket generates enormous revenue for the state through its tourism industry, the government should consider establishing the island as a special administrative zone, she said.

K. Thanyarat also expressed concern that increasing traffic and environmental problems were a threat to Phuket’s attractiveness as a tourist destination.

As before, senators do not have to be aligned with a political party.

A new election law allows candidates to meet voters and encourage them to cast ballots, but forbids them from making campaign promises.

Noting that the campaign rules were released only last Friday, the former Juvenile Court Judge said she needed more time to study them in detail.

For the time being, however, she has no-one to campaign against.

The deadline for registering candidacies is at 4:30 pm on Friday.