• 
• 

Yesterday was the last day to register for the election. Bangkok voters will elect their governor on October 5.

Toranee Riteetamrong, 63, was one of those registering themselves yesterday. "I had a dream in which King Rama V told me to run in the gubernatorial election. So, I came here," the spouse of a former Thai ambassador said.

Toranee's policy is to encourage rich people to help the poor by making donations for the benefit of their community.

"I will launch local newspapers for every district so that people's voices are heard," she said.

Toranee, however, has no plan to attract votes by visiting constituents.

"If I am destined to win the election, I will win anyway," she said.

Udom Wiboontepachart, who has failed twice in previous gubernatorial races, also registered for the coming race.

"I don't expect to win. Still, I want to provide voters with another alternative," he said. "This is also an opportunity to promote my policies so that the elected candidate can implement them."

Public Party leader Wachiraporn Ayuyuen, 39, was another Bangkokgovernor hopeful. She showed up to register herself as a candidate with more than 10 supporters.

"I am entering the gubernatorial race because I am confident that I can solve Bangkok's problems. I will also focus on policies that will benefit women," she said.

Somchai Paiboon, a former Bangkok councillor under the nowdefunct Thai Rak Thai party, said he would finance his own gubernatorial campaign.

He admitted that he did not expect to win.

"I decided to jump into the race because I don't want it to be dominated by just the old choices," he said. Nipon Simprayoon was the final gubernatorial candidate to register for the upcoming election.

Former Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin and former massageparlour tycoon Chuwit Kamolvisit, who earned 300,000 votes in the previous gubernatorial race, are also vying for the top city post.