Chadchart Sittipunt has won the election for Bangkok governor, pending the official announcement from the Election Commission.
"Once the EC makes the announcement, I will be the governor for everyone," he said in his first press conference since the vote count began at 5pm.
With the unofficial count showing him far ahead of other competitors, the former transport minister came out from his office to meet his supporters and the media at Stadium One in Pathumwan district.
He said Democrat Party representative Suchatvee Suwansawat and Move Forward candidate Wiroj Lakkhnaadisorn had called to congratulate him for winning the contest.
Mr Chadchart promised to work with Bangkok councillors from all parties, and urged people to "overcome all past conflicts in order to move forward together".
Although he refused to declare himself the winner, Mr Chadchart said he was satisfied with the results and said it was a special day.
"Today is a meaningful day for me," he told supporters.
He said eight years ago on May 22, 2014, in the early days of the military coup, soldiers covered his head with a bag, bound his hands and took him to a secret location.
Mr Chadchart was the transport minister under the Pheu Thai Party before then army chief Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha led the coup.
Off-the-charts victory
With 100% of the votes counted, Mr Chadchart received 1,386,215 votes, ahead of Mr Suchatvee, who received 254,341 votes.
Mr Wiroj was running third with 253,464, followed by former Bangkok deputy governor Sakoltee Phattiyaul with 230,176, former governor Pol Lt Gen Aswin Kwanmaugn with 214,459, Rosana Tositrakul with 78,919 and Sqn Ldr Sita Divari of the Thai Sang Thai Party with 73,697.
Like Mr Chadchart, Pol Gen Aswin, Mr Sakoltee and Ms Rosana ran as independent candidates.
