Color bathes Bangkok poll

[dArKeR]

AP , BANGKOK
Tuesday, Jul 27, 2004,Page 5

Supporters of Bangkok mayoral candidates parade in front of City Hall yesterday.
PHOTO: AFP
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/photo/2004/07/27/2003140158

A sex industry tycoon, a prominent women's rights advocate and a maverick politician with pub-brawling sons have emerged as leading candidates for Bangkok's mayoral race, which officially began yesterday.

Voters will go to the polls on Aug. 29 to elect a city hall chief to run this sprawling metropolis and Thai capital of more than 10 million.

There is no clear front-runner among the 28 candidates who submitted their applications on the first of five days of registration.

But recent polls have shown that Chuwit Kamolvisit, known as Bangkok's massage parlor king, and Pavena Hongsakul, a former parliamentarian who gained prominence for fighting abuse of women and children, are current favorites among the 3.8 million eligible voters.

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