Hua Hin Municipality to prepare for its mayoral election on May 11
Chamnan Puengioh
On April 8, 2008, at Hua Hin Municipality, Prachuap Khirikhan Province, Mr. Warothai Naewbanthat, the Director of Prachuap Khirikhan Election Commission (EC) and Ms. Srisuda Ratri, the Municipal Clerk, officially opened a desk for those mayoral and councilor candidate’s zones 1-2-3, by assigning May 11, 2008 as the election date. Participating in this election are Mr. Siraphan Kamolpramote (former mayor) with his 18 members and Mr. Jira Phongphaiboon, the leader of Hopeful Hua Hin Power Group (the former mayor) with his 18 members. After Mr. Siraphan was assigned for number 1 and number 2 for Mr. Jira, their supporters rushed to them to give flowers and garlands as encouragement before starting their election campaigns.
Mr. Siraphan said he was very sure that a 100% winning opportunity must belong to his team of 18 in 3 zones and hoped to return to his seat in the municipality again, because when he was the previous Mayor, he had shown masterpieces done for communities, especially community leader elections, solving problems of water work’s debt, municipal schools educational development, tourism promotion, other activities, traditions and cultures, so that Hua Hin was awarded many prizes.
His executive team is composed of Mr. Siraphan, the Mayor, Mr. Nopporn Wutthikul, Mr. Withun Lo-Sirilak and Mrs. Bussaba Choksuchart, the three vice mayors, Snr.Sgt.Maj. Soraphol Ranual, the Chairman of the Municipal Council, PhD Pheeraphong Isarapakdee and Maj.Gen. Decha Boonyachai, the two Municipal advisors.
“The next issues that will be done for those communities are water work development on raw water sources and cleanliness, community participation, tourism promotion, especially for foreign visitors to Hua Hin, as well as local and national sports support. “All of these mentioned works are included in the working plan for the benefit of the communities” Mr. Siraphan said.
Talking to Mr. Jira, another candidate, he said that on behalf of the former Mayor, he was requested by many supporters in the community to form a team for the incoming election, he didn’t refuse to do so and he was willing to develop Hua Hin by preparing “the 6 decrees” such as drinkable water, assigning English, Chinese and computer into school curriculum, tourism promotion and so on. All of these mentioned talks must be tangibly preceded. Moreover, he will improve tax imposing systems on house and land tax paid by hotels, guesthouses owned by Thais and foreigners in Hua Hin as well.
“At the moment, I am running to get votes in various communities, the feedback is very good and those people are willing to support and vote for my executive team and its members. Therefore, it can be ensured that I and my working team will surely sit on the seat of Hua hin Municipality one more time, 100%” Mr. Jira said.
The vice mayors are composed of Ph.D. Rungroj Siluaengsawat, Mr. Athikhun Butying, Mr. Sura-At Narongrit and Mr. Suwit Rianrungruang. The Advisors of the team are not yet revealed, but it is sure that they are all well educationally qualified (Bachelor, Master and Doctor Degrees), so that the people in Hua Hin can be sure that Hua Hin will be moved forward for its greatest development sooner.
The upcoming election is a fight between “uncle” and “nephew”. Mr. Jira is the uncle of Mr. Siraphan (a son of Mr. Jira’s elder sister); so that most people say that this is “a family fight”. The two party candidates have run for their votes though April in various communities and villages, whose campaigns are as colorful and exciting as the Presidential Elections in America.