"The unexpected defeat of Anchalee Vanich Tepabutr, reputed to be one of the most powerful politicians in Phuket, in the provincial administration organisation race on Sunday reflected the wish of voters to break her family's perceived monopoly on local politics, analysts said.
The former chief of the Phuket provincial administration organisation (PAO), an outright favourite to win the poll, could rake in only 39,085 votes, almost 20,000 fewer than winner Paiboon Upatsaring, a former Phuket senator. Ms Anchalee contested the election on the Democrat party ticket and that may have caused her downfall.
Despite its immense popularity in the South, the Democrats may be wielding too much influence in the province, said a political source. If she had been re-elected, the province would have been put completely in the hands of the Thepabutr family as her husband Tossaporn is already a Phuket MP. The source said many voters were fed up at seeing the province being run by a single family. . .
Democrat leaders, including party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, party chief adviser Chuan Leekpai and party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, who had assisted Ms Anchalee in wooing voters, reacted with dismay at the results."
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/23Apr2008_news16.php
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Dominant political family loses control of Phuket
Started by Kirkland, Apr 23 2008 12:07 PM
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