The district group of the "Bund Naturschutz" managed to get all nine candidates for the Landrats-Post on the podium. All spoke out in favor of environmental and climate protection as well as for energy and mobility change. The only differences were in the ways in which the goals are to be achieved.
Weilheim - There was a dense crowd on Tuesday evening in the foyer of the city hall an hour before the panel discussion began. Ecologically and socially oriented associations such as the "Pro Bahn" passenger association, the "Economy for the Common Good" and "Our Country" presented their work in a "market of opportunities".
After Helmut Hermann had welcomed the approximately 750 visitors to the town hall, three experts presented facts on ecological problems to get in the mood for the long evening. Stefan Emeis, who gave figures on climate change, says: "A lot has been said so far, but little has been achieved." Energy consultant Andreas Scharli was optimistic. There is potential in the thermal use of solar energy, as well as in hydropower. Norbert Moy from “Pro Bahn” considers the expansion of the railway to be an important part of the mobility transition.
Regarding the nine candidates and the almost full city hall, the moderator Georg Bayerle stated: "This is lived democracy." At the same time he noticed: "There are few young people." When asked whether they were candidates for the district government, they answered their role model function all with "yes". The railway operator Alexander Majaru (SPD) takes the train to work, as does Karl-Heinz Grehl (Greens), the bicycle dealer Tillman Wahlefeld (citizen for the district) uses the bicycle, Jörn Wiedemann (independent) no longer flies, Rüdiger Imgart (AfD ) wants to abolish his company car as district administrator, Michael Marksteiner (free voters) uses renewable energy and buys regional products, Markus Kunzendorf (ÖDP) is 90 percent vegetarian, Morten Faust (FDP) works from his home office to get traffic avoid, and Andrea Jochner-Weiß (CSU) has renovated her house energetically.
Energetically not up to par
When asked how they want to contribute to climate protection, the statements differed. While Kunzendorf "wants to call out the climate emergency first," Imgart sees people only as "jointly responsible" for climate change. Majaru sees himself as the youngest candidate most affected by the problems and complains that the older ones bring "too little enthusiasm". Wahlefeld has a concrete plan. He wants to build more photovoltaic systems. With regard to the district's real estate, Jochner-Weiß stated: "We have already done a lot." For Grehl, this is not enough. He wants “130,000 people to be involved”. Wiedemann only wants to allow the passive house standard for new buildings and criticizes the new construction of the vocational school. This is energetic and in terms of space requirements is not up to date. Marksteiner also wants to use water and wind power where this makes sense. When Jochner-Weiß remarked that the government was responsible for many things, not the district administrator, Marksteiner said: "You don't always have to do what the boss says."
Reduction of the circular contribution required
There are also clear ideas about the turnaround in traffic. Faust wants to set up a train stop in the Au and electrify the lines, Majaru wants the modernization of the Schongau train station and passenger traffic on the Fuchstalbahn. Imgart emphasizes the "central function of the rail", Wahlefeld wants to "make public transport more user-friendly", Kunzendorf wants to "build an east-west connection" and Grehl wants to speed up the implementation of projects. Jochner-Weiß said that the expansion of the railroad was “a matter for the railways” and that it was “in constant contact with the railways”. This is not enough for Grehl. As a district administrator, he wants to "exert political pressure". He sees the politics of the past 50 years as the reason for today's problems. With the upcoming election, it was time to "let others in".
The audience also had its say. Mayor of Wessobrunn, Helmut Dinter, calls for a reduction in the district levy so that the municipalities have more money for future projects. Wiedemann wants to "reduce this to below 50 percent".
Brigitte Gronau proposes the introduction of the common good economy in the district. Kunzendorf, Wahlefeld, Wiedemann and Grehl think this makes sense.
Alfred Schubert
All information and news about the 2020 local elections in the Weilheim-Schongau district can always be found on our large topic page.
