18 candidates in race for Tangerang mayor

18 candidates in race for Tangerang mayor

TANGERANG: A total of 18 mayoral and 16 deputy mayoral
candidates in Tangerang municipality will contest the elections
for the 2003-2008 period.

The elections will be held before the end of November at the
Municipal Council building on Jl. Satria Sudirman, Tangerang.

Some 53 people took registration forms but only 38 had
returned them by Saturday's deadline. Four of the 38 were
declared ineligible as they failed to submit the necessary
documents, which included a medical certificate stating that they
were not on drugs.

Many people turned up at the council building on Saturday to
see the candidates submit their forms.

"I came here to see who was standing for election. We hope
that whoever is elected mayor will be the best choice for
Tangerang municipality," said one visitor.

The council building was guarded by officers from the
Tangerang Police as well as security guards.

Council deputy speaker Krisna Gunata said that security had
been tightened to avoid any disruption during the closed-door
selection process, which will start on Tuesday.

Some non-governmental organizations have erected banners
outside the council building warning councillors to shun money
politics and bribery attempts during the elections.

"The Tangerang people will hang any councillors found guilty
of being involved in money politics during the election process,"
said Ibnu Jandi, the director of the Public Studies Institute. --
JP