Three men want to conquer the executive chair in the Fischbachau town hall. During our panel discussion, the candidates met. And that's how they fought.
Fischbachau - You had to look for the differences in content between the three candidates on stage. It was almost an hour and a half before moderator Stephen Hank was able to report success. When it came to the question of whether Fischbachau needed a hotel or not, there was a divergence of opinions for the first time during the panel discussion among the mayor candidates in the Wolfseehalle.
While Johannes Lohwasser (29, FWG) and Georg Gruber (51, FaB) spoke out in favor of expanding the accommodation options, Josef Obermaier (53, CSU) advocated first increasing the occupancy of the existing beds from the current 25 percent. Merkur editor-in-chief Hank humorously took up the mini-controversy: "So if you don't want a hotel, choose Mr. Obermaier." The Fischbachauer in the packed hall applauded almost relieved. After all, many of them had come to the home newspaper event to get help on March 15th.
In any case, the response was gigantic. Just a few minutes after admission, many tables in the Wolfsee hall were occupied. Until shortly before the start, the citizens searched for the last free chairs. They all wanted to see how the three applicants for the successor of incumbent Josef Lechner (CSU) presented themselves on the podium. The great interest is explained not least by an almost historical situation. After Lechner had started his two terms in the executive chair of the Fischbachau town hall without a candidate, the Leitzachtal experienced a real election campaign for the first time in 13 years.
However, the - at least on the stage in the Wolfseehalle - was very well conducted. This culminated with the question of the unique selling points. "Now it's going to be exciting," Stephen Hank said with a wink. But the moderator and the audience were instructed otherwise. After each of the candidates had given their point (Obermaier his experience in local politics, Gruber his career in business and administration, Lohwasser laughing his blond hair), the three gentlemen assured each other that they would like to work together in the municipal council after the election.
Also read: Local elections 2020 in the district of Miesbach: An overview of all mayoral candidates
No matter who takes the lead in the end: In terms of content, the Fischbachauer should expect a similar timetable. The short summary: densification instead of large new development areas, small and medium-sized businesses instead of external industrial companies, broadband expansion instead of 5G euphoria. The candidates also largely agreed on the improvement of local public transport. An overall concept for buses and trains was needed here, and the district's call collection taxi had to be put on a new footing.
The three gentlemen could not take away the fear of the traffic jam caused by day tourists. "We cannot set up a barrier," said Gruber. Lohwasser's suggestion to rely on "quiet tourism" countered Obermaier: "He can be gentle but not fall asleep." Lohwasser replied that he was only interested in marketing: "If you use that, it is not a contradiction to growth." for the second time that evening there was a hint of controversy.
Experience against impartiality was also the dividing line when it came to citizen participation. While Gruber and Lohwasser offered an open consultation, Obermaier stepped on the brake on realism. This is not always compatible with the many appointments of a town hall boss.
But that was it with the differences on stage. And also in terms of personal presence, the candidates did not give much. All three performed confidently and had their excitement well under control. Obermaier made credible use of his experience as a long-standing councilor, but Gruber and Lohwasser also showed that they had apparently already worked themselves in well.
The surprise moment of the evening was the youngest of the candidates. Lohwasser got up and stepped forward to deliver his final statement. The audience clapped enthusiastically: with so much harmony, each unique selling point was welcomed.
The best sayings of the evening
"I don't want to talk about internals now, but at least it didn't deter me."
Johannes Lohwasser asked if his mother, the secretary of the Mayor of Schliersee, had not advised him against running for office.
"If I become mayor, it is a sign that you can achieve something with it."
Josef Obermaier on his graduation from middle school. It was about the importance of the facility for the place.
"I watched it for a long time, but unfortunately I didn't understand it."
Georg Gruber on the complexity of the county-wide collective taxi.
"They shake off like a wet dog."
Obermaier on the behavior of Telekom when it comes to requests for broadband expansion.
“We were six people and a bunch of rifles. In the end, we were worried that we would never make it home. ”
Gruber on his mountain rifle excursion in the municipal electric minibus.
"As a mushroom seeker bus?"
Lohwasser considers how the ski bus could also be used in summer.
"Now I need my audience joker."
Gruber charmingly admits that he lacks detailed knowledge of the Birkenstein walkway.
"One of the three of us becomes the boss of one of the largest employers in Fischbachau."
Obermaier on the importance of the mayor's office.
"I'm being asked about it surprisingly little."
Wage water over his age.
