[6] Sontaya is married to Sukumol Kunplome who has been culture minister in Yingluck Shinawatra's cabinet since 2011.

In Chonburi province in the election, Suchart's faction won three seats, whilst Sontaya's backed candidates were defeated by the Future Forward party.

[10] On 26 September 2018, Sontaya was appointed mayor of Pattaya City by Prime Minister Prayut for the benefit of operations in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) as well as the reform of local government.

His appointment generated criticism of Prayut who was accused of rewarding him to ensure his support from the Phalang Chon Party in the upcoming election.

[13] He was succeeded by Poramet Ngampichet from Sontaya's Rao Rak Pattaya party in the 2022 mayoral elections.