PHUKET: Former Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupapana is seeking reelection. She put her hand up for the role today, the first day of nominations opening.
Prospective candidates have until May 25 to register at the Phuket City Council offices in Phuket City.
While Phuket City is definitely a city, Khun Somjai described it cheerfully today as a ''happiness town.''
She said she intended to campaign to continue to keep Phuket City's environment sustainable, to retain good education, quality of life and proper management of garbage and bad water.
''We have a budget of about 500 million baht that leaves little left over for infrastructure,'' she said.
She has a large group of supporters and aims to continue in what has become a familiar role for Khun Somjai, an enduring presence in Phuket's local politics.
She has previously been elected mayor twice for terms of four years and was a councillor for many years.
Mayors of Patong and Rawai have been reelected already in 2012, along with Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation President Paiboon Upatising.
About 40,000 citizens are eligible to vote. Phuket City moved from being a town to a city when its population officially passed 70,000 earlier this century.
These days, with rapid development, many tourists describe the whole island as being one ''city.'' In an administrative sense, there are many local councils.
Prospective candidates have until May 25 to register at the Phuket City Council offices in Phuket City.
While Phuket City is definitely a city, Khun Somjai described it cheerfully today as a ''happiness town.''
She said she intended to campaign to continue to keep Phuket City's environment sustainable, to retain good education, quality of life and proper management of garbage and bad water.
''We have a budget of about 500 million baht that leaves little left over for infrastructure,'' she said.
She has a large group of supporters and aims to continue in what has become a familiar role for Khun Somjai, an enduring presence in Phuket's local politics.
She has previously been elected mayor twice for terms of four years and was a councillor for many years.
Mayors of Patong and Rawai have been reelected already in 2012, along with Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation President Paiboon Upatising.
About 40,000 citizens are eligible to vote. Phuket City moved from being a town to a city when its population officially passed 70,000 earlier this century.
These days, with rapid development, many tourists describe the whole island as being one ''city.'' In an administrative sense, there are many local councils.
