After the death of incumbent Markus Landthaler, the people of Lenggries elect a new mayor on September 13th. Tobias Raphelt enters the race for the SPD.
- After the death of the incumbent, Marks Landthaler, mayoral elections are due in Lenggries on September 13th.
- 47-year-old Tobias Raphelt competes for the SPD. He is presented in this portrait.
- His competitors are Klaus Hanus (Greens) and Stefan Klaffenbacher (FWG).
Lenggries - Tobias Raphelt knows the concerns about him. Many Lenggries people wonder whether his health is in a position to take over the office of mayor. Few dare to speak directly to the SPD candidate about it. But Tobias Raphelt has no problem talking about his handicap. “I trust myself to be mayor with one caveat,” says the 47-year-old. "When the ground is broken, I like to let the second or third mayor go first."
But joking aside: Tobias Raphelt is serious, he wants to go to Lenggries town hall. “I cannot say: I will run for office in March and then no longer in September.” Just because the election result in the spring of eight percent did not go well, he could not move now. "It's about loyalty to Lenggries." Regardless of the outcome of the election on September 13, Raphelt could imagine throwing his hat into the ring again in 2026. “Not because I want to have a career,” he says. "But because I want to make a difference for Lenggries."
Problem manager by profession
In terms of career, the SPD candidate no longer has to prove anything. Until his stroke, he headed a 60-strong service team at a well-known IT company. After the stroke of fate, he changed positions in the company at his own request. In the end, says Raphelt, he works as a “problem manager”. So ideal conditions for the office of mayor, right? “Yes, partly yes,” says Raphelt and laughs. “But I still have deficits in administrative law.” Since he made the leap to the local council in March, he has learned a lot. He benefits from the fact that he is quick to grasp. Raphelt is also used to dealing with large sums of money: He was already responsible for an annual turnover of 23 million euros. "That is comparable to the budget of the municipality of Lenggries."
Tobias Raphelt is more concerned that as mayor he would be more public. “That certainly doesn't make your free time any more relaxed.” Nevertheless, Raphelt accepts that citizens will in future speak to them about community issues when walking with the dog “Bazi” or having a barbecue in the home garden in Schlegldorf. He is sure of the support of his family: son (18) and daughter (22) support Raphelt as well as his partner in his political ambitions.
Tobias Raphelt finds relaxation while reading or watching a good film. His collection includes over 400 films - from westerns to fantasy films. The 47-year-old describes himself as loyal, tolerant and very sociable. Of course, he also has a few not-so-good qualities: "I can be terribly resentful and impatient." However, the community employees need not be afraid: "As a boss, the well-being of my employees was always more important to me than my own."
After stroke: left hand paralyzed
Perhaps that's why Raphelt suffered a stroke a few years ago. “That was certainly due to the stress.” Since then, Raphelt has not been able to use his left hand and needs a stick for a long walk. Raphelt does not see the stroke as only negative. Since then he has not taken a lot of things to heart. “It also led to my politically more active again.” In 2018, he took over the chairmanship of the local association, the dissolution of which had actually already been decided. Raphelt joined the SPD at the age of 18. “I have a parental burden,” jokes the Tölzer native, who grew up in Schlegldorf.
Nothing has changed in his election program: Tobias Raphelt wants to push the broadband expansion, keyword home office. In addition to an innovative tourism and transport concept, Lenggries also needed affordable living space, says Tobias Raphelt with a view of the barracks. As mayor, he wants to try to find a balance - in the spirit of the late Markus Landthaler. He has a hard time assessing his chances against his two competitors Klaus Hanus (Greens) and Stefan Klaffenbacher (FWG). "But I'm a very positive person," says Raphelt and adds with a smile: "As an SPD candidate, I may have to be."
The Tölzer Kurier will broadcast a discussion on September 3rd with the candidates Stefan Klaffenbacher (FWG), Klaus Hanus (Greens) and Tobias Raphelt (SPD) in the live stream.
