The first day of applications for mayoral and municipal council positions in Hua Hin City Municipality saw a strong turnout on Monday, marking the start of the local election season ahead of the vote scheduled for 11 May.
At the Hua Hin City Municipality office, candidates and their supporters began arriving early in the morning to submit their documents. The lively scene reflected renewed political activity following Hua Hin’s official upgrade from town to city municipality on 28 March.
This election is the first to be held under the new administrative structure. With the upgrade, the city council has been reorganised into four constituencies, each electing six members.
Three candidates submitted their applications for the position of Hua Hin City mayor on Sunday. A lottery was held to determine the order of their candidacy:
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No. 1: Nopporn Wutthikul, representing the “New Hua Hin Power” group and a former mayor of Hua Hin.
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No. 2: Phitsanu Klakhai, of the “Hua Hin Metropolis” group and a former member of the Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Administrative Organisation.
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No. 3: Kew Arunarot, leader of the “Fight for Hua Hin – Make Hua Hin Smile Again” group.
All three political groups also registered full slates of six council candidates in each of the four constituencies. The “FREEDOM Independent for Oversight” group fielded three candidates in constituencies 1 to 3 and four in constituency 4. Several additional independent candidates also submitted their applications throughout the day.
Jeerawat Prammanee, the municipal clerk currently serving as acting mayor of Hua Hin City and director of the local election commission, opened the application process alongside other commission members and officials. Candidates were briefed on the registration procedures and election rules.
Meanwhile, in Prachuap Khiri Khan Town Municipality, two candidates applied for mayor on Sunday morning. A draw was held to assign candidate numbers:
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No. 1: Kamol Kaewtess of the “Prachuap Pattana” team and a former mayor of Prachuap Khiri Khan.
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No. 2: Pattama Kraithong of the “Power of Hometown” team, and the wife of former mayor Kriangkrai Kraithong.
Both groups also submitted full candidate lists for the municipal council, with six candidates in each of the town’s three constituencies. Two independent candidates applied for council positions as well.
Applications for mayoral and council member positions in both Hua Hin City and Prachuap Town municipalities will remain open until 4 April. The election will take place on Sunday, 11 May.
