A government panel will nominate a replacement for the Pattaya City Council June 30, completing the city’s transition to appointed leadership following the expiration of the former mayor and council’s elected terms June 16.
Chonburi provincial administrator Srongwuth Chanpongsri announced June 20 that the new 12-member board will be named by a committee of government agencies. The board will replace the 24-member Pattaya City Council, which finished its four-year term earlier this month.
Nominations will begin June 30 with the full panel finalized by July 4, Srongwuth said.
No local or national elections are permitted under the military regime. As such, the National Council for Peace and Order has mandated that the Interior Ministry appoint new officials whenever democratically elected terms expire.
Chonburi Gov. Khomsan Ekachai will head the appointment committee, which also will have representatives from the National Anti-Corruption Commission, Office of the Auditor-General and Internal Security Operations Center.
A driving force in the naming of the new councilors is to ensure there is no corruption in their selection, Srongwuth said.
Pattaya Permanent Secretary Chanatpong Sriwiset, who was appointed acting mayor by the Interior Ministry, told city workers he wants civil servants to follow four principles: Work with unity, follow the law, learn from real-life experiences and work with morality.
