The ninth gubernatorial election

Election

An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...

 for the city of Bangkok

Bangkok

Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...

, Thailand

Thailand

Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...

. The election was held on the 11 January 2009. The election came about after the resignation of Apirak Kosayothin

Apirak Kosayothin

Apirak Kosayodhin is a former Thai business executive and former governor of Bangkok. In the gubernatorial elections on August 29, 2004 he won 40% of the votes...

 on the 13 November 2008, the incumbent who was only just re-elected a little more than a month (on 5 October 2008). the resignation stemmed from an indictment by the National Counter Corruption Commission or NCCC, in which Apirak was indicted for the controversial 6.6 billion Baht fire-engine procurement contract. The former Prime Minister

Prime Minister of Thailand

The Prime Minister of Thailand is the head of government of Thailand. The Prime Minister is also the chairman of the Cabinet of Thailand. The post has existed since the Revolution of 1932, when the country became a constitutional monarchy....

 and former Bangkok Governor Samak Sundaravej

Samak Sundaravej

Samak Sundaravej was a Thai Chinese politician who briefly served as the Prime Minister of Thailand and Minister of Defense in 2008, as well as the leader of the People's Power Party in 2008.-Early life and family:...

 was also found guilty in the same verdict. On the 13 November Apirak in front of television cameras announced his resignation saying: "Like the Democrat Party, I support a move that will perpetuate politics-for-people" at the same time maintaining his innocence and stating that his resignation should become an example of a change in Thai politics, his resignation triggered an automatic by-election

By-election

A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....

. By the end of the 11 January 2009, Sukhumband was declared the winner of the race, becoming the 15th Governor of Bangkok.

Campaign

On the 1 December, the Election Commission

Election Commission (Thailand)

The Election Commission of the Kingdom of Thailand is an independent government agency and the sole Electoral Commission of Thailand tasked with overseeing Senate, House, local and district elections throughout the Kingdom of Thailand. Established by the Constitution, the Election Commission has...

 allowed the registration of candidates. A total of 14 candidates registered. In accordance with the law, they picked numbers by which they would be assigned for the campaign. The three highest profile candidates were: MR Sukhumbhand Paripatra

Sukhumbhand Paripatra

Sukhumbhand Paripatra is a Thai politician and MP belonging to the Democrat Party. Educated at Oxford University in England, he is a former Deputy Foreign Minister of Thailand...

, ML Nattakorn Devakula and Yuranun Pamornmontri.

MR Sukhumbhand Paripatra

Sukhumbhand Paripatra

Sukhumbhand Paripatra is a Thai politician and MP belonging to the Democrat Party. Educated at Oxford University in England, he is a former Deputy Foreign Minister of Thailand...

, the 56 year old candidate of the Democrat Party

Democrat Party (Thailand)

The Democrat Party is Thailand's oldest political party and was the main coalition government party of the 23rd House of Representatives of Thailand. The Democrat Party's current leader is Abhisit Vejjajiva, incumbent opposition leader and former Prime Minister. The party upholds a conservative...

, is a former Foreign Minister

Foreign minister

A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...

. MR Sukhumband vowed to carry on with policies initiated by Governor Apirak and to continue the environmentalist agenda. He ran under the slogan: "Bring back Bangkokians' smiles".

ML Nattakorn Devakula, a 32 year old Independent candidate, was a former TV host, popularly known as "Khun Pluem". He ran on the slogan: "Vote for me. Vote for the governor of the future".

Yuranun Pamornmontri, the 45 year old Puea Thai Party

For Thais Party

The Pheu Thai Party is the third iteration of a Thai political party originally founded by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra...

candidate, is a popular TV actor and film star.

Polling and results

The election and results were announced on the same day: