His Serene Graciousness Sukhumbhand Paribatra has just confirmed he’s seeking office again as Gubernational Overlord Mayor of Krungthep Mahanakorn. Because this happened over the weekend and no one in their right mind would be caught dead in stinking, polluted Bangkok on a Sunday, the announcement was made at a resort in Pak Chon, Nakorn Ratchasima, to esteemed members of the media.In both the Bangkok Post and the near-identical Thailand News Bureau communique, the Governor announced his major plans for his next four years in office: finishing a hospital started under his first term, and building a halal kitchen at Sirindhorn Hospital.We asked Aom and Chai in admin and IT to get their first impressions, because they’re Muslims and should feel really flattered that the Lord Mayor has plans for their people. “I don’t know. I’d expected he’d say something about more green spaces, or improving traffic,” Aom said, before we fired her for her callous lack of gratitude for the Lord Mayor. After being slapped around a bit, Chai was a bit more forthcoming. “I’m really happy. Especially since they announced that the immigration department should crack down on Muslim Cambodian tourists, because, they’re, well, Cambodian and, you know, Muslims. So I guess we’ll have that big kitchen pretty much to ourselves. And some Saudis. Really rich Muslims are still welcome in Bangkok, I hear.”Even within the ranks of the Democrats, there was some grumbling. Some would have preferred ex finance minister Korn, or maybe just a large stuffed animal. One party cadre said: “This is a key election for the Democrats and we can’t let someone get elected who plans on doing stuff. If Sukhumband completes a kitchen and a hospital after eight years in office, that’s a legacy the Democrats will have to live with for many years to come.”Pheu Thai, too, are shaking in their imported boots. One insider told us, “Sukhumbhand has these really pinchable cheeks. He’s like a guy in a panda suit. We’re going to have to come up with even more projects than he did! Maybe a halal kitchen, a hospital for the elderly, and a Wash Your Hands After Using the Toilets campaign. But I just don’t know if we can keep a straight face promising so much to the people of Bangkok.”