Bangkokians Cast Votes For New Governor

[george]

Bangkokians cast votes for new governor

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok residents started going to polling stations Sunday morning to elect their new governor Sunday.

The voting began at 8 am and will end at 3 pm.

At several stations, voters arrived since 7:30 am to check their names.

The city clerk also urged voters to come out as soon as possible for fear that rains would fall in the afternoon.

-- The Nation 2008-10-05

[george]

Good weather lures voters to polls

BANGKOK: -- Bangkokians were waiting to vote when the polls for governor opened to bright sunlight and clear skies at 7am on Sunday, and a heavy turnout appeared likely.

The unofficial results of the Bangkok governor election are expected to be announced by midnight, City Clerk Pongsak Semsant said.

He said the city is fully prepared to hold today's governor election and expects voter turnout to be as high as 70 per cent.

His only concern is heavy rainfall that has been forecast which could discourage people from voting.

Voters will be allowed to cast ballots from 8am to 3pm. After that, ballot boxes will be sent to the 50 district offices for vote counting.

Mr Pongsak said results would be constantly updated and the unofficial winner would be known no later than midnight.

City Hall, where votes will be sent from all of Bangkok's 50 districts to be counted, is abuzz with activity as 20 computers have been installed there and two giant LCD screens erected in front of the municipal offices.

Unofficial results will continuously appear on the screens for the enthusiastic crowd.

Sixteen candidates are contesting for the four-year term and they plan to send their representatives to monitor the counting of votes.

Pol Gen Wichian Potphosri, chief of the Royal Thai Police Office's election supervision centre, said more than 12,000 police officers will be dispatched to maintain peace and order at polling stations in the city.

About 300 investigators have been assigned to handle poll fraud complaints.

He said Bangkokians would be wise not to breach the election law which bans all forms of gambling and disallows the sale of alcohol from 6pm Saturday until midnight Sunday.

-- Bangkok Post 2008-10-05

[george]

POLL WINNER TO BE KNOWN BY MIDNIGHT

BANGKOK: -- The unofficial results of the Bangkok governor election are expected to be announced by midnight today, City Clerk Pongsak Semsant said.

He said the city is fully prepared to hold today's governor election and expects voter turnout to be as high as 70%.

His only concern is heavy rainfall that has been forecast which could discourage people from voting.

Voters will be allowed to cast ballots from 8am to 3pm. After that, ballot boxes will be sent to the 50 district offices for vote counting.

Mr Pongsak said results would be constantly updated and the unofficial winner would be known no later than midnight.

City Hall, where votes will be sent from all of Bangkok's 50 districts to be counted, is abuzz with activity as 20 computers have been installed there and two giant LCD screens erected in front of the municipal offices.

Unofficial results will continuously appear on the screens for the enthusiastic crowd.

Sixteen candidates are contesting for the four-year term and they plan to send their representatives to monitor the counting of votes.

Pol Gen Wichian Potphosri, chief of the Royal Thai Police Office's election supervision centre, said more than 12,000 police officers will be dispatched to maintain peace and order at polling stations in the city.

About 300 investigators have been assigned to handle poll fraud complaints.

He said Bangkokians would be wise not to breach the election law which bans all forms of gambling and disallows the sale of alcohol from 6pm yesterday until midnight today.

-- Bangkok Post 2008-10-05

[Kerryd]

Is the election for Mayor or Governor ?

Bangkok set for mayoral elections

The residents of Bangkok are being offered a distraction from the political turmoil that has disrupted the capital over the past two months.

It comes in the form of an election for the city's mayor.

Bangkok is one of only two cities in Thailand that is allowed to elect its own mayor.

Although the position carries limited power, the contest has attracted a colourful array of candidates - 16 people have come forward.

It is a job you would think no-one would want.

Bangkok is plagued by chronic traffic, air pollution, seasonal floods and uncontrolled development.

And the post of governor carries very few powers - most of its funds are controlled by the central government.

Yet 16 candidates have come forward to contest the election.

Placard hazard

Incumbent Apirak Kosayodhin is the front-runner - a calm, telegenic candidate for the opposition Democrat party.

His achievements over the past four years do not amount to much, but he does enjoy a reputation as a reasonably clean and competent administrator.

His opposite in temperament is Chuwit Kamolvisit, a former massage parlour tycoon, running for the second time.

He projects an image as a tough guy, a straight-talker, ready to clean up politics, which he reckons is even dirtier than his old business - an image he lived up to when he punched out a television interviewer for asking what he deemed impolite questions.

There is an idealistic professor, calling himself Dr Dan, promising 300 new policies, including the Sisyphean task of ridding the city of its rats and cockroaches.

Then there is Leena Jang, a gaudily made-up businesswoman whose prospects wilted a bit after her campaign manager drowned in a Bangkok canal while trying to demonstrate its unsuitability for swimming.

Campaigning has involved sending out trucks blaring Thai pop songs from loudspeakers, and erecting huge placards along the pavements.

These have made walking in Bangkok quite hazardous - several pedestrians and motorbike riders have been injured by falling posters.

Bangkok set for mayoral elections - BBC News - 5 Oct 2008

[joebuzzard]

The title is usually stated in English as governor, but some media outlets use the term mayor.

[grtaylor]

The title is usually stated in English as governor, but some media outlets use the term mayor.

The BBC probably used "Mayor" as that is the term familiar to people in the UK. The only places which have "Governors" in the UK are schools (Board of Governors) and prisons!

G

[sriracha john]

The winner:

Democrat Party candidate Apirak Kosayothin

[animatic]

Almost a foregone conclusion considering the competition...