Olaf von Löwis has been in office for a year.
The Miesbach district administrator takes stock and speaks about crisis management in the pandemic.
District -
meetings at a distance or only online, almost no personal encounters with citizens, projects on hold: the official business of the district administrator and mayors has changed significantly since the beginning of the corona pandemic.
District Administrator Olaf von Löwis (66, CSU) has never really got out of crisis mode since he took up office in May 2020.
Mr. von Löwis, what was your best appointment in this unusual first year as a district administrator?
Everyone who wasn't about Corona (laughs).
No, I actually remember the exam with the department heads in June 2020 most of all.
Here it was possible to listen to everyone and to discuss the basics.
A lot has been about crisis management for a year, but the small positive moments predominate.
What percentage of your working time revolves around the corona pandemic and its effects?
Since the topic plays a role in almost every area, I would say at least two thirds.
When it comes to fighting pandemics only, maybe 40 percent.
How long did it take you to get used to the district office?
That went relatively quickly, especially since I was welcomed into a great team here.
After just a month, I had the feeling that I had been doing the job for a year.
I have certainly also benefited from my previous position as mayor.
But many processes are also different and sometimes surprising.
With the dual function of the district office as state authority and district administration, it is sometimes difficult to take the state perspective.
I like to be a little more free in my decisions and want to make a difference for people.
We don't want to be a prevention authority.
What has surprised you most in your tenure so far?
During the election campaign, I couldn't imagine that there could be a topic like Corona that challenges you so much.
I am always a positive-thinking person and would like to pass this on, but it is currently taking a lot of energy to convey this glimmer of hope again and again.
Shortly after taking office, I was really surprised by the senior citizen center in Schliersee.
The topic hit pretty hard and takes me even more with it than Corona.
We're still looking for a good way out here.
After all, we have a great responsibility here for the elderly.
Which individual project did you advance the most?
The new building of the district office.
With significant support from the responsible department head Maria Rode, the treasurer and the staff council, I was able to take a new look at the new building.
The experience from the increased home office on the occasion of Corona showed that we can plan much more digitally and more courageously.
A district office is to be built for the day after tomorrow, which is geared towards the citizens and offers attractive jobs.
The goal is satisfied citizens and employees.
I am very confident that we can do this together.
How do you currently rate the local political mood at the district level?
The first time in particular was very positive and harmonious.
In the meantime you can feel that emotions are rising and people are reacting sensitively or are starting to get unwilling.
Perhaps it is also due to the general situation and the upcoming elections, I don't take it personally.
Interview conducted by Stephen Hank.
About this series
The seven newly elected mayors and the district administrator in the Miesbach district are now in office for one year.
In our series of interviews, they report how they experienced their start during the Corona crisis.
Robert Kühn (SPD) has been sitting in the chair of the Wiesse mayor for a year.
The 38-year-old was the surprise winner of choice at the time.
Johannes Lohwasser (FWG) talks about his first year as mayor of Fischbachau and talks about nice dates, surprises and the corona pandemic.
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