Geretsried's mayor Michael Müller is about to serve his second term. He cannot rest on his good election result. Corona crisis management is the order of the day.
Geretsried - Despite three opposing candidates, Mayor Michael Müller received 62.15 percent of the vote in the local election. A result that could be celebrated and enjoyed for a few days. But the CSU town hall boss, who is now about to serve his second term, had no time for that. The corona pandemic puts local elections and all other issues in the background. Crisis management is the order of the day. Our newspaper spoke to the 50-year-old about the current situation - on the phone, of course.
Mr. Müller, how are you today?
Good thank you.
You achieved a very, very good result in the local elections. Were you aware of this in the face of the corona pandemic?
Yes, at the moment of the announcement I could of course notice it. But it was already under the sign of the virus. There was no public celebration. I followed the results privately. A few people were there, however, that was still possible at that time. The next day, the Corona crisis continued.
This means?
The first signs were already in the run-up to the election. We have therefore pulled the pandemic plans out of the drawer and set up a crisis team.
Who belongs to it and how often does it come together?
The department heads of the administration are in the narrow circle, and the department heads in the extended group. We meet every two days. There are also conference calls with the district office in the same rhythm.
What does the crisis team take care of?
At its core, it is about maintaining the functionality of the administration. Drinking water supply, building yard, regulatory office, fire department, cemetery must be secured, but of course also administrative activities and services, for example in the registry office.
How do you ensure that?
We divided the employees into two shifts in order to separate them in time and space. One shift works in the morning in the town hall and in the afternoon from home, the other shift works the other way round. The contact persons are still available. But only by phone and email to minimize the contact risk.
And that works?
The system has proven itself. It helps us that we reacted early. But of course we haven't had a situation like this in our 70-year history. There is no blueprint to fall back on. Not everything is regulated in the pandemic plan, we had to work out some new things. And in addition to the implementation of these measures, there was also the municipal election.
What is a day like for you right now?
I am always in the town hall in the morning. I go through my mail and emails, talk to our manager and, if necessary, the department heads. Of course, in compliance with the distance rule. Then I make phone calls, which I continue from home in the afternoon. Overall, everything focuses heavily on telephone appointments - like our interview now. And I'm now holding the citizens' consultation on the phone.
Is politics at a standstill?
No. It is said that a crisis is the hour of the executive, but the democratic system must not be undermined. It is important to me that we continue to work on committees, but of course only within the framework set by the pandemic. We have established a vacation committee with the members of the main and finance committee. He will take on the essential topics in the next six weeks.
All of this makes it clear: For you, it went on seamlessly without the congestion of victory.
The choice has slipped backwards. I ended the campaign in the end. So I still have some of my honey gifts at home. But I can also distribute it when everything is good again.
Is normality slowly returning now that the Corona news is no longer overturning as it did at the beginning of the pandemic?
One can by no means speak of normality. It is difficult to say what will come next. It is also not yet possible to say how all this will affect Geretsried and the district. We try to be there for people and to signal stability. At the same time, of course, it is important to maintain social life despite everything. Here we try to support offers such as the neighborhood help next door. In such extreme times, the good cohesion in the city proves itself. I would like to thank everyone who works here.
How stressful is the current situation for you personally?
It is a balancing act. As a private person, I am concerned about what can happen. After all, I also have family and children; and of course I'm not immune myself either. On the other hand, as mayor, I feel responsible for the people in our city.
How bad is it for Geretsried that public life is paralyzed?
Nobody can say what the effects will be in the medium and long term. For many business people, self-employed, restaurateurs and artists, the current situation is a disaster, for us as a business location it is a real challenge.
Does the city have to worry about financial issues now?
I can't say that at the moment, but of course we are closely watching. In the budget that we adopted at the end of January, one or the other will certainly have to be put to the test. I do not yet want to make a forecast of how the situation will affect tax revenues, but that will certainly be an issue that the new city council will have to deal with.
Speaking of city council: What do you say about its new composition?
We achieved good results with the CSU. The fact that the APO (extra-parliamentary opposition, here Geretsried list, editor's note) is now included in the city council promotes democracy. It is no longer enough to organize demonstrations on Karl-Lederer-Platz or to post comments on the Internet, but to take responsibility. That's a good sign.
How do you rate your result?
It is clear evidence of trust and confirms the course I took at the beginning of my first term in office.
What are you looking forward to when normal again
Life returns?
Drinking a nice wheat beer in the beer garden and sitting there with my wife.
Thank you very much for the conversation. Stay healthy!
I wish you that too.
sw
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