Kathu elections invoke bans on alcohol sales
Residents in Tambon Kathu will go to the polls to elect a new Kathu Mayor this Sunday (Jan 14), and go to the polls again next Sunday (Jan 21) to elect a new representative to serve them on the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO) council.
Both elections will invoke a 24-hour ban on the sale of alcohol for each of the elections.
Candidates for the Kathu Mayor election registered in December after the election was announced in late November.
There are three candidates vying for the position of Kathu Mayor: Mr Niphon Bamrungthin, Mr Wannayut Suthikul and Mrs Phansupa Chotirasamechai.
There will be 25 polling stations set up throughout Tambon Kathu, which will be open for residents to cast votes from 8am to 5pm, explained Rattana Laptanapong, Election Director of Kathu Municipality.
Meanwhile, there are two candidates vying for the PPAO Kathu Area 1 seat on the PPAO council in the election to be held in Tambon Kathu on Jan 21.
They are Wichai Kiattansakul and Peera Sukyiran, both residents of Moo 2, Kathu.
There will be 16 polling stations set up throughout the subdistrict on Jan 21.
Those, too, will be open from 8am to 5pm for residents to cast votes, explained PPAO Election Director Akarawat Sirithanthanakorn.
The election for Kathu Mayor was invoked after the position became “vacant” after years-long incumbent Chaianan Suthikul was summarily dismissed from office by previous Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew in January last year.
Mr Chai-anan’s dismissal from office followed an investigation into allowing a private operator to pump water from a lagoon at the Tin Mine Museum in Kathu.
Election Director of Kathu Municipality Ms Rattana posted a notice explaining how the dismissal was appealed, and how and when that appeal was dismissed by the court.
Of note, former Phuket Governor Mr
Narong when speaking to the media on Jan 26 last year confirmed that he had issued an order to dismiss Mr Chai-anan from office. However, Mr Chai-anan was to vacate the position of Kathu Mayor and call an election just days later, on Feb 1.
Under election law, the two coming elections in Tambon Kathu will each invoke a 24-hour ban on the sale of alcohol in the tambon (which does not include Patong or Kamala).
For the Kathu Mayor election, there will be a ban on the sale of alcohol in Tambon Kathu from 6pm Saturday (Jan 13) through to 6pm Sunday night (Jan 14).
For the PPAO Kathu Area 1 election, there will be a ban on the sale of alcohol in Tambon Kathu from 6pm, Saturday, Jan 20, through to 6pm, Sunday , Jan 21.