It will come as no surprise to many that Mr. Ittipon Khunpluem romped home in the election for mayor of Pattaya, yesterday, May 4, 2008. Mr. Ittipon gained an overwhelming majority, relegating Mr. Surat to second place and Ms Alisa to third, gaining effective control of Pattaya City Council.
Pattaya City is currently the nation's number one tourist venue, described as mini-Bangkok, or the Asian Riviera, and the post of mayor has been described as the equivalent in magnitude and political weight to Chicago or Miami in the US. Mr. Ittipon is the second son of the highly influential, "king-maker", Kamnan Poh.
In the run-up to the election, Mr. Ittipon, whose clarion call is "We Love Pattaya", stressed his national administrative experience and avowed intent to improve life in Pattaya for all and truly consolidate the city's position as an international tourist destination.
Mr. Ittipon intends to put his vision for a new improved Pattaya into practice by carrying out the following policies:
· environmental improvement
· the implementation of an effective water supply for the city and Kho Larn (Coral Island)
· a 12-year free education system
· low-cost housing for low income groups
· a new, improved traffic system
· a tramline transportation system
· flood prevention
· job opportunities to decrease poverty
· the eradication of Pattaya's red-light venue – Walking Street
· the establishment of a drug-observation and prevention centre
· the encouragement of ecotourism
· the construction of a sports centre
· the establishment of a tourism festival
· the encouragement of world-class entertainment
