39 governor candidates listed

39 governor candidates listed

MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara: The province's legislative
council has received a record-high 39 names from the public for
the next governor, a councilor has said.

The candidates will vie for the chair that incumbent governor
Herman Musakabe will vacate in July. The council will short-list
them next week before submitting the strongest candidates to the
Ministry of Home Affairs.

Council speaker Simon Petrus Soliwoa said Musakabe enjoyed the
most support, followed by Pieter Alexander Tallo, the deputy
governor; Simon himself; Daniel Woda Palle, a local Golkar
functionary and Gaspar Parang Ehok, currently the Manggarai
regent.

"People have until the end of March to propose candidates,"
Simon said. "At the moment people are still inundating the
council (with names)."

The next governor will serve until 2003. (yac)