Pian wins second term as Patong Mayor

PATONG: Pian Keesin won the Patong Municipality election for the seat as Patong Mayor yesterday, defeating rival Somkiet Kuru by 577 votes.

Of the 11,460 eligible voters in the resort town, 7,849 voters (or 68%) turned out to cast ballots at the 23 polling stations set up around Patong.

Votes were cast from 8 am to 3 pm, after which the counting began, with the provisional count announcing Mayor Pian as the winner at about 8 pm.

Number one on the ballot sheet, Somkiet Kuru, who leads the Patong Gao Na (Patong Progress) party, scored 3,249 votes.

Mayor Pian,who leads the Rak Patong (Love Patong) party, scored 3,826 votes.

Of the new 18-member municipality council representing Patong’s three electorates, 11 are from the Rak Patong party.

They are: Tanin Atthasap, Prasob Prateep na Thalang, Sahat Charoongklin, Manit Yhuyen, Pruedsapakom Setthong, Pradit Kongkaew, Pongsak Kaenlek, Thaneechai Jaemjarat, Saichon Sombat, Weerapot Iebsap and Weerawit Kruesombat.

Khun Tanin, K. Manit, K. Pruedsapakom, K. Saichon and K. Weerapot all served on the previous municipality council.

The seven councilors from the Patong Gao Na party are: Boonrod Tiengnoi, Charoen Kwanyuen, Mana Panchalad, Narong Chue-yuan, Prasarn Nuchate, Prasert Pattakor and Boontaen Piromrit.

K. Charoen and K. Mana also both served on the previous council.

In the mayoral election, there were 411 spoiled ballots and 363 “no votes”, whereby voters tick a box expressing their intention not to vote for either candidate.

In the council election, there were 398 spoiled ballots and 441 no votes.