Next Sunday, the district citizens have the choice: six candidates apply for the post as district administrator. But what do they stand for? What are you up to?
District - Six candidates will take part in the district election on March 15th and are confident that they will be able to tackle the challenges in Bavaria's most populous and economically strong district.
The clear favorite is incumbent Christoph Göbel (CSU). "I am an enthusiastic local politician," says Goebel of himself. The 45-year-old is the youngest in the field of applicants, optimistic, popular, well-known and authentic. Even in the ranks of his rivals, he is considered the defending champion. Nevertheless, the lawyer does not lean back confidently in the election campaign. The father of - soon to be three - children collects votes for himself and the CSU parliamentary group with great personal commitment, perhaps also to prevent a runoff election. “Mobility of people” is “the key to our region”.
In the district office, the number of employees has grown continuously and has doubled to 1300 during his first term. In the district council, the lawyer understood how to reach consensus on many decisions. The biggest challenge so far has been the asylum rush. Göbel has put himself at the forefront of the welcome culture in the district, in close cooperation with his deputies.
However, the factions of the SPD, Greens and Free Voters have had important impulses since 2014. The MVV reform would only have been a reform, had the district SPD and the mayors of the northern municipalities no longer vehemently demanded. The Greens focus on climate protection and the free voters brought up the dead idea of the maglev train again.
At least Nadler wants to reach the runoff
One campaign champion is Christoph Nadler (Greens). The business economist from Taufkirchen is running for the second time for the district office. This time, the 64-year-old wants to at least reach the runoff. Nadler works in the insurance industry and is on the supervisory board of various solar companies. He is pleased that green issues have reached the center of society. He puts climate protection in the first place and is convinced that climate policy is important to many voters: "March 15 will be a beautiful day." Nadler has been with the Greens for 30 years, parliamentary group spokesman in the district council since 2001, and councilor for 16 years Taufkirchen. In the election campaign, he hired some celebrities such as Toni Hofreiter or Robert Habeck. The fact that the climax planned for today with the Federal Chairman of the Greens due to the Corona debate is "very unfortunate", but "reasonable".
Alternative in the conservative camp
Otto Bußjäger comes from an agricultural family that has been located in the district since 1730. The 49-year-old wants to reconcile climate protection and economy in the economically strong district. Bußjäger is a master craftsman and local counselor, was the mayor of Grasbrunn, is a member of the town council in Höhenkirchen-Siegertsbrunn and has distinguished himself as a deputy to the district administrator. "It's better together" is the motto of his committed election campaign. "We worked together trustfully in all political groups on the asylum issue, as well as on the structural reform and the location issue for the district office," he says. His goal: "To enlarge the group of free voters."
AfD wants to go to the district council for the first time
The AfD wants to move into the district council for the first time and once again sends Putzbrunner Gerold Otten as a candidate for the district administration. Shortly before the registration deadline, he declared his candidacy. The assembly meeting was held in camera. In the election campaign, Otten can only be seen on election posters. He did not take part in any panel discussion of the district council candidates. The AfD also did not organize public election events. In general, she was unable to draw up applicants. Of the 29 district municipalities, there are only candidates for the city council in Unterschleissheim. Otten (64) was a professional officer and sales director at Airbus Defense and Space. In 2017 he moved to the Bundestag for the AfD.
Combative for the SPD on List 5
Annette Ganssmüller-Maluche is also a representative of Göbel and is therefore up and down in the district. The experienced local politician worked closely with the incumbent. Nevertheless, the 58-year-old is now fighting for votes again with vigor and refers to the SPD's commitment to the MVV reform or the expansion of the bus routes. She calls for more emphasis on building the subway to Martinsried and upgrading the S-7, she wants a more modern construction company in Munich-Land and criticizes the administrative reform in the district office: "We are systematically increasing the workforce, but the work is not being done faster." She ran as a district councilor in 2014, when she succeeded in a surprise coup when she forced Göbel into the runoff. She was all the more contrite when she missed the hoped-for entry into the state parliament in 2018. "I have become very humble," says the mother of three adult children. The experienced local politician does not make an announcement: "Of course I want to be a district administrator", but she absolutely does not know "where we stand in the voters' favor. That's why I'm not dealing with it, I'm campaigning and hope that the voters will find us on List 5. ”
Ritz holds up the Liberal flag
Michael Ritz is running for the FDP. The lawyer and insurance broker from Grünwald is the district chairman of the FDP and wants to stand up for liberal positions, regardless of whether the district council deals with mobility, energy, housing construction, digitalization or the economy. The 58-year-old was in the Kirchheim municipal council for six years and has been a municipal council member in Grünwald since 2009. He only plays a secondary role in the race for the district office, he is primarily concerned with achieving a good result for the Liberals in the district parliamentary group and in the local parliaments. In Grünwald he ran for mayor at the same time.
We have listed the mayoral candidates of all municipalities from the Munich district in our overview article for the 2020 local elections. All other background reports can also be found on our topic page on the local elections 2020 in the Munich district.
