The unofficial results of the municipal elections in 12 major areas on the island yesterday (May 11) were confirmed last night by the Phuket branch of the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT Phuket).
For the results to become official, all ballots must be sent to the main ECT office in Bangkok for verification and validation.
Ms Lalita led her team, the ‘Patong Creative Party’, to victory with 4,458 votes, besting nearest rival Chalermlak ‘Ji Yoi’ Kebsap of the Patong Fah Mai Party by 843 votes.
In contrast to Ms Chalermlak’s 3,615 votes, third candidate Pakrit Keesin secured just 1,461 votes in the Patong mayoral race.
Ms Lalita has spent the past four years as Deputy Mayor of Patong, under the administration of her brother Mr Chalermsak, who did not run for re-election.
“I was so shocked by the results. I screamed so hard that I almost lost my voice,” Ms Lalita told The Phuket News.
“It was a feeling of gratitude that the people chose and voted for me. I am happy with the response. I would like to thank all the people who chose and trusted me,” she added.
“The first thing we want to push is infrastructure. We want to push for road infrastructure so that everyone can travel to Patong or in Patong conveniently and safely. Including sidewalks, walkways and various traffic lines that we want to push because we want Patong to have sidewalks and roads that are safe to walk on,” Ms Lalita said.
Yet Ms Lalita will not get everything her way on the Patong Council. Ms Chalermlak’s Patong Fah Mai Party won two of Patong’s three voting districts, securing four out of six seats in both District 1 and District 2, but in District 3 Ms Lalita’s Patong Creative Party won all six seats.
PHUKET TOWN
In Phuket Town, Supachoke Laongphet of the Rak Phuket Party outclassed rival candidate Phisit Sutthichindawong of the Young Turks Party to become the next Phuket Town Mayor.
Previously incumbent Mayor Saroj Ankanapilas did not run for re-election.
Of the 22,895 votes cast, representing a turnout of 49.2%, Mr Supachoke secured 10,717 votes, compared with 9,980 votes for Mr Pisut.
Mr Supachoke is well known for his very active efforts in trying to resolve the solid waste crisis at the incinerator facility in Saphan Hin, and for his steps to help prevent flooding throughout the town.
OUTLIERS
In Karon, previous mayor Jadet Vichirasorn failed to defend his seat, with Wallop Nadon of the Chaoban Party, No.4 on the ballot, securing victory as the next Mayor of Karon with only 1,597 votes.
Chalong saw a hard fought contest between incumbent mayor Thanaporn ‘Ji Nui’ Triwong and previously serving mayor Samran Jindapol of the Chalong Kao Mai Party.
While Mr Samran returned to power as Chalong Mayor with 7,147 votes, clearly outpacing Ms Thapanporn’s 4,651 votes, the Chalong Municipality Council remains divided with each party securing six council seats in both District 1 and District 2 in Chalong.
Thames Kraitat of the Tum Tay Pattana Rawai Party was the sole candidate for the seat as Rawai Mayor, which by no surprise he won with 5,694 votes.
Former Mayor Aroon Solos did not run for re-election as he is still facing corruption charges.
Kreetha Chotiwichpipat of the Pattana Wichit Team won his bid for re-election and has kept his seat as Mayor of Wichit, while Jirayut Songyot of the Ko Yut Ratsada Party, and as No. 2 on the ballot, has displaced former mayor Nakarin Yosangrat of the Ratsada Kla Plean Party to become the new Mayor of Ratsada.
Panya Samphaorat of the Pa Klok Gao Na Party also successfully defended his seat as Pa Khlok Mayor.
Sunirun Rachataphruek of the New Step Party as the sole candidate won the seat as Mayor of Cherng Talay Municipality ‒ not to be confused with Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor), which administers the coastal areas in Cherng Talay, such as Bang Tao.
With only 4,310 eligible voters in the area, Mr Sunirun secured 1,840 of the 2,220 votes cast.
Chalermpon Kerdsap of the Srisoonthorn Pen Nueng Party also retained his seat as Mayor of Srisoonthorn, securing 8,211 votes and 12 of the 14 council seats available.