Mayor-elect’s Rao Rak Pattaya council slate also elected
Newly reelected Mayor
Itthiphol Kunplome casts his vote at the 12th election unit in Region 2,
Central Pattaya.
Phasakorn Channgam
Itthiphol Kunplome won re-election for a second term as
Pattaya’s mayor, carrying his entire 24-candidate Rao Rak Pattaya
slate for city council into office with him.
Itthiphol defeated three independent candidates in the
June 17 poll, collecting an unofficial 21,446 votes compared to 2,187 votes
for Udomsak Chuenkhrut, 1,615 for Su-ainee Piendee, and just 316 for
Suphakit Suneerattanakul.
Voter turnout was low as just over 41 percent of the
69,205 eligible voters cast their ballots, possibly due in part to heavy
rain the previous day. Some of the 28,723 who did vote expressed some
confusion over a new voting district format, which split the city into four
zones, each of which elects six city council members. Election Commission
officials were on hand around the city to clear up any issues.
Itthiphol cast his ballot at the Nong Orr Monk
Association around 10 a.m. with a crowd of well-wishers and media watching.
Polls closed at 3 p.m. with the Election Commission counting votes from 90
polling station at Pattaya School No. 2.
When ballots were tallied, the full Rao Rak Pattaya
slate, comprised mostly of city council members seeking re-election, came in
first.
The party’s District 1 slate of Acting Deputy Mayor
Wattana Chantanawaranon, former city council members Banlue Kullavanijaya,
Jidapa Suwattaporn, Thatchai Supspornpasuphat, Anupong Bhudanawarut, Urit
Nantasurasak, and new candidate Vichet Nongyai captured between 5,318 and
6,335 votes each.
The independent candidates vying against the
establishment slate - Sompng Iempinyo, Punya Pornmanusorn, and Manoch
Kijthumcharoen - garnered only 3,106, 906 and 410 votes respectively.
In District 2, Rao Rak Pattaya’s slate of Acting Deputy
Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn, previous city council members Rattanachai
Sutidechanai, Farooq Wongborisuthi, Manoch Nongyai, Morakot Noohuang; and
new candidates Ithiwat Wattanasartsathorn and Yuwida Jeerapan attracted
2,412-2,782 votes each.
Independent candidates Samart Silarae and Chaichaoren
Saeheng collected 237 and 464 votes, respectively.
In District 3, Rao Rak’s slate of Acting Deputy Mayor
Ronakit Ekasingh, former city council members Vichai Rodpia, Visalya
Phettrakul, Nakhon Phonlookin, Chanansa Sutthithamrongsawat, Sanit
Boonmachai; and new candidates Banjong Banthoonprayuk won between 3,957 and
4,469 votes each.
The Saerichon Pattaya Party’s three District 3 candidates
- Thanes Khruakhun, Thennosapol Ekklang and Nopananth Kruaviset - won
between 603 and 804 votes each. Independent Sawek Meeprasertsak attracted
480 votes.
In District 4, Rao Rak’s slate of Acting Deputy Mayor
Verawat Khakhay, and former city council members Tavich Chaiswangwong,
Phansak Saengchan, Praiwan Arromchuen, Thongchai Ardzong, Amnuai
Somphongtham and Choosak Sriwatjanapong secured 4,937 and 5,903 votes. The
only independent candidate, Chanaporn Bumrungsamraan, attracted just 557
votes.
