Difficult start for future mayor of Oberammergau

The time has come on May 1st. Then Andreas Rödl (CSU) succeeds Mayor Arno Nunn in Oberammergau. The two have been good friends since their time together in the local council. In the election, Rödl narrowly prevailed against his opponent Ludwig Utschneider (non-party voters, PWG).

Oberammergau - “I didn't expect that. I'm more of a cautious guy and thought that it would be scarce in any case, ”explains the 34-year-old, who has just completed his last night shift as chief police officer in Murnau. Rödl was born in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, grew up in Oberammergau, for him "the most beautiful place in the world". He has been married to the sculptor and art student Lena (28) for two years. The two had met at the Passion in 2010.

Yes, the Passion Play, or rather, the end due to the Corona crisis is very much an issue for the budding City Hall boss. “I grew up with the games myself, and the cancellation hits us hard. Crisis work is now my first and most important task. ”You have to get through this time first, the“ most difficult task that lies ahead of me ”, says Rödl. The main thing is not to lose local businesses and to revive tourism. In the sense of normalcy, which hopefully will come back soon, although Rödl is already quite certain: “It will be different. In any case, it's not like it used to be. ”

It is probably the lot of the new ones, he muses. His predecessor Arno Nunn also had a difficult start in 2008. At that time, Oberammergau was heavily indebted for rehearsals for the Passion Play. Funding was not secured for a long time. Rödl is full of praise for his outgoing predecessor: “Arno is a person who can work with anyone if he wants to. He has never been insulted or resentful, he is a warm, open and extremely positive person. "

He also wanted to try to act in this way and be impartial and open to everyone, no matter what political color he belongs to and with what concerns he comes.

But with all the challenges, the future boss in the town hall also sees a good side: “We all grew closer together in town. The common fight against adversity and a common goal weld together. At the moment, our meetings are less about politics than about the current situation and how we can best cope with it. ”As never before, the decisions are now almost unanimously across the stage. "It would be nice if it stayed that way even after Corona times," says Rödl with a smile.

The passionate singer and angler keeps twelve chickens in his own garden "because we want to live healthy." He sees himself as an objective guy who tries to take the emotions out of discussions. At the factual level, it is simply easier to speak. His job as a police officer has required an objective view. "I hope to be able to take on my new position."

Which topics will he deal with first after the Corona crisis? The Wellenberg swimming pool and the Ammergau house, which currently generates a deficit of EUR 300,000 annually, are high on the agenda. “We would like to get an investor on board for the bathroom. But given the current financial situation, it is of course a question of whether we will succeed, ”says Rödl. In the Ammergau house, which houses the tourist information and the back office of the Ammergau Alps, a nature park center should move, as it were, as an information center for the Ammergau Alps nature park. Here one tries to get a surcharge, an expert opinion is being prepared.

Rödl is still in the training phase. He is glad that Arno Nunn introduces him to his tasks, shows him a lot in administration, Rödl sacrificed his vacation for this in order to be able to go into his new position with the best possible preparation. Family planning is also considered. "We actually wanted to wait until after the Passion, but you should never make plans." If his wife also wants to go into politics based on the Mittenwald model, which is not currently planned, Rödl would not mind. On the contrary. "Even if the scraps will fly from time to time, because Lena is more of a green player."