Former Phuket Governor Wichai Praisa-ngob will take his seat soon in the Senate as appointed member representing Phuket, one of 73 selected senators whose names were released today.
Phuket Provincial Election Commission (PPEC) Director Kittipong Thaingkunakrit told The Phuket News today (April 12) that former Gov Wichai was one of three people nominated for the post, the others being Jamrus Pitikulsathit, special lecturer at Rajabhat Phuket University, and "a Mr Kittipong" from the Phuket Politics Association.
Mr Wichai was Governor of Phuket from early 2009 until the latter part of last year, when he retired from the bureaucracy. He replaces Phummisak Hongsyok as the island’s representative in the Senate.
The 73 nominees will take their seats in the Senate once their names have been announced in the Government Gazette.
The Thai Senate consists of 76 members chosen in provincial direct elections and 73 selected by a committee of five judges and other worthies from names proposed by local professional organisations.
Phuket's elected senator is Thanyarat Achariyachai.