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