Somjai opens canvassing for Phuket City Mayor election

PHUKET: Somjai Suwansupana yesterday was the first to register her candidacy in the upcoming Phuket City Municipal election on June 16, marking her attempt for re-election to her third consecutive term as Phuket City Mayor.

Given the favorable voting ballot number 1, Ms Somjai led her Khon Noom “Young Turks” party in registering their candidacies for the 24 council seats up for grabs.

All other potential candidates have until this Friday, May 25, to register at Phuket City Hall.

The only non-Young Turk to register his candidacy yesterday was independent Anan Kormongkoltharakul, contesting Phuket Town Ward 3.

Tawatchai Thongmung, Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) at Phuket City Municipality, said he expected about 70 per cent of the 46,521 eligible voters to turn up and cast their ballots.

“We will conduct a public relations campaign to make sure every community in Phuket Town knows the election is on,” he said.

Ms Somjai will be running her re-election campaign with the slogan “Happy Town Forever”.

“If I am re-elected, I will continue the good work we have done over the past four years and improve on the things that are still not good enough for the people of Phuket Town.

“The first priority will be education, but the improvement of public utilities is also essential. We have a budget about 500 million baht each year, but it has not been enough to improve our infrastructure,” Ms Somjai said.

In accordance with the Election Act, as the election date has been set for Saturday, June 16, there will be a ban on selling alcohol within the Phuket City Municipal area from 6pm Friday, June 15, through to midnight June 16.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong