▲After a frantic campaign with lots of noisy loudhailer music and party propaganda the elections to local councils took place quite peacefully on our peninsula. There were some surprise results, a recount of votes cast (in Bodrum) and an annulment of one result (in Yalı Beldesi where a rerun election is to be held on 7 June). Four incumbents were returned to office as mayors: Yalikavak (Mustafa Saruhan of CHP), Göltürkbükü (Halil İbrahim Kaynar, ANAP), Konacik (Mehmet Tosun, MHP) and Gündoğan (İbrahim Bilgi, MHP). There were significant upsets too, namely in Bodrum and Turgutreis. The Bodrum mayoral race was won by a slim margin by Mehmet Kocadon of DP (photo in inset), the former mayor of Ortakent-Yahşi, upsetting incumbent Mazlum Ağan of CHP who was regarded by many as a shoo-in. The other upset was in Turgutreis where Mehmet Dinçberk (CHP) won over incumbent Ali Server Yazgan. The Ortakent-Yahşi race was won by Mehmet Onur Şahbaz  and Mumcular by Birol Aydın (both of MHP), while Gümüşlük went to Mehmet Tire (DP). We wish them all good look and look forward to good work on behalf of the people of their constituencies.

►Now it is up to the voters of each community to hold the new local authorities to their election promises, and as we know there were many made. To mention just a few: Mehmet Kocadon promised a Public Health Clinic (Sağlık Ocağı) for Torba – but his most important promise was to protect the environment and the specific character of Bodrum. He will have a battle on his hands with powerful interests who want to build taller buildings, threatening to ruin the fabric of the town.

Mustafa Saruhan promised that Yalıkavak will join the “Slow Cities” movement.

More controversial are the promises of Mayor Kaynar for Göltürkbükü: a yacht marina with the capacity for 600 boats and bringing to conclusion the demolition of all jetties that provide additional catering space to restaurants. There was also a promise of a “Great Port Project” for Turgutreis but since it was made by the incumbent who lost the race we may be saved from having to resist an undertaking that seems extravagant and totally unnecessary.

?What’s in store for the Bodrum peninsula in the coming season? Everyone is holding their breath and trying to think positive – while realistic expectations are very sober. The financial crisis will have its negative effects on tourism, though some of our British friends say that increase of arrivals from the U.K. can be expected. Cheers!!