• 
• 

Is it his devilish good looks or is it because Bangkokians are incapable of appraising Apirak's work or lack thereof over the past four years?

Or maybe it is because most Bangkokians are so against the ruling People Power Party (PPP) that they are willing to support Apirak, who comes from the opposition Democratic Party?

Whatever the answer, Apirak promises a "Bangkok of the Future" - except over the past four years, his administration has done little to inspire.

Bangkok continues to be a polluted, traffic-choked capital. All attempts to turn it green have been superficial, involving either expensive billboards paid for by tax payers proclaiming the great plans or small pots of foliage at bus stops and Skytrain pillars that will only become a reason to call for more funds.

Fumes continue to billow out from old buses, while the Saen Saep canal remains filthy. Many footpaths still resemble the surface of the moon, and the continuous digging and re-digging makes a stroll down a Bangkok street a potentially fatal undertaking. This, of course, leaves out the physically handicapped residents.

Growing noise pollution is also becoming a big concern, with some Bangkokians making loud noises about the racket they have to suffer in public parks and both outside and inside Skytrains.

And yet, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) did little if anything under Apirak.

So perhaps the best thing Apirak can and should do is declare that he is not seeking a second term. It's not too late.

Yet the very latest Apirak campaign message posted on the traffic-choke and polluted streets of Bangkok is that: "I am ready to work for Bangkokians again".

Perhaps Apirak is supported by those appalled by the politics of nepotism and abuse of power by the PPP so they're willing to re-elect Apirak, no matter what Apirak may or may not have done.

However, it is not like other candidates are offering much hope either.

For instance, candidate number 10 Prapat Chongsanguan, represents the PPP and it's hard to see why anyone would vote for him other than to give the ruling party yet more power because the man has said little about his plans for Bangkok.

He is seen more as a last minute PPP man than a competent candidate for the top BMA job. And PPP is hardly making a secret of it, having Prapat's posters declare "Love PPP vote for number 10".

Though Prapat was impressive as chief of the Bangkok subway system, keeping it generally clean and well-run, voters should remember that running a city is another thing all together.

What's more, given that the PPP is also running the national government, would voters want more power put in the hands of the ruling party - especially at this time of a deep political divide?

That brings us to the third major candidate, Chuwit Kamolsiri, who is running as an independent. The flamboyant former Chart Thai party MP has become a household name - unlike Prapat who needs to appear on campaign posters wearing what appears to be a black motorcycle-racing jacket to attract interest.

But should voters place their trust on a man like Chuwit, whose strongest points are running a massage-parlour empire and pulling off political stunts?

Well, it depends on how one views the sex industry and political stunts.

The last of the four leading candidates according to pollsters, is number 2 - Prof Dr Kriengsak Charoenwongsak - another independent candidate who claims to have come up with at least 300 policies for Bangkok, including a war against cockroaches and rats.

Kriengsak, with lofty ideas like turning all Bangkok public schools bilingual and doubling green spaces within four years, is seen as an idealist. However, he appears to have done his homework.

Still if national politics prevail in the minds of Bangkok voters, then Sunday's voting would end up becoming a showdown between PPP and Democrats, with the rest ending up as sideshows.

Yet, as Bangkokians head for the polling booths, they should also remind themselves that their brothers and sisters upcountry have to make do with governors appointed by the Interior Ministry - a fate far worse than the limited choice given to residents of the City of Angels.