The first day of a 5-day period for the applications for the positions of Mayor of Pattaya and Pattaya City Council Members on April 1, 2008, saw an eager throng of candidates and supporters in Pattaya City Hall‘s Tapraya Meeting Room, many arriving early, including the three mayoral candidates. All candidates displayed supreme confidence about winning the election.
The director and president of the Election Commission of Chonburi were Messrs Phoonsak Sankagaew and Arnon Rewathananon, respectively, with those for Pattaya being Messrs. Sithibparp Mueng-kum, and Koson Uan-gleang. The Election Commission of Pattaya asked the three contenders to draw a candidate number, which were as follows: Miss Alisa Bpanthusak got No. 1, Mr.Ithiphol Kun-pluem , No. 2 and Mr.Surat Mekawarakul , No. 3.
Commenting on their respective number allocations and feelings, the candidates had this to say: Miss Alisa Bpanthusak said "I am delighted to get No. 1. It was the number I was expecting and is considered to be lucky. I am confident about all the zones and not worried about competing with those with more experience because I've got experience of my own in working and business administration. Besides, I'm also modern thinking and have working concepts of how to develop the city. I believe that I could lead Pattaya city into being a modern, progressive city."
Mr. Ithiphol Kun-pluem, on the other hand, said "Personally, I don't mind what number I get. It's not important. The point is I just want my number to be in the hearts of the people of Pattaya. All candidates have equal ability, so we have to compete as regards policy and quality of work. I'm not afraid that I will be slandered because the political process will be run according to the law and regulated. Besides, my team members have already had experiences in running Pattaya City. I trust that they will be able to work right away as they already know the problems. As regards the No. 2 that I got, I consider that it is a victory number and a symbol of the winner"
Mr. Surat Mekawarakl, candidate No. 3, said that "Even though the number I got is not what I expected, it's not important because only Pattaya people know what the problems are and how to solve them. I am not anxious about this election. From today, I will send my team members to launch the campaign from door-to-door to the people. I am convinced that Pattaya people will choose the members from Pattaya for certain"
For the Pattaya City Council Members, all three teams have been nominated for all 4 zones, a total of 24 candidates. But in zone 2, there is currently only one independent candidate - Mr. Bhichet Nongyai. Accordingly, the three teams decided to expand the number of independent candidate to 4 in all 4 zones to avoid confusion of the numbers they'd been given. All independent candidates will have the No. 1. And the 3 new independent candidates will be: Mr. Prawet Thong-on, zone 1, Mr.Anan Kunnaglad, zone 3 and Miss Jinda Luengta, zone 4. Miss Alisa Bpanthusak's team (Pattaya Fah Mai group) members will be allocated the numbers 2-7. Mr. Ithiphol Kun-pluem's (Rao Raks Pattaya group) members No. 8-13 and Mr. Surat Mekawarakul 's members No. 14-19.
Mr. Arnon Rewatananon, President of Chonburi Election Commission, declared that on the first day of applications everything was in order. Nobody was contravening t the election laws. Later on, Election Commission members will investigate the qualifications of all candidates and will publicly invite all the people to come to vote in the election. On April9 08, all the candidate teams and independent candidates will be invited for a meeting where the articles of the election laws are explained and they will be asked to abide by them. All three team leaders will have to sign the community agreement that there will be no selling or buying of votes or any other illegal practices.
