Surprise in Oberammergau: The composition of the municipal council is changing - namely in the ranks of the “With a sense of proportion” faction.
Oberammergau - Christiane Knöpfle is at work when her cell phone rings.
Mayor Andreas Rödl (CSU) asks you for an interview.
In private.
They meet only a few minutes later, on official channels, so to speak.
After all, it is only a few meters to walk between the administrative headquarters of the municipality in the Pilatushaus and the office of Ammergauer Alpen GmbH, where the 55-year-old works in guest service.
Rödl served Knöpfle the surprising news: She should move into the Oberammergau municipal council.
Withdrawal for health reasons
That was last Monday, today, Wednesday, she will be sworn in at the public meeting of the municipal council and will take Anton Burkhart's chair. The representative of the group “With a sense of proportion” informed the municipality in a letter at the end of May that he would like to give up his mandate. To Rödl's regret. He values Burkhart, his knowledge, motivation and commitment. “I really enjoyed working with him,” he says of the managing director and first chairman of the Oberammergau private forest community. Often they sat together last, for example to clarify property issues. The mayor describes the 51-year-old as “always fair and objective” as well as a “good partner”.Now the Jesus actor of the Passion of 2000 is saying goodbye to his local politician colleagues for health reasons.
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Resigns his mandate: Anton Burkhart
© Neeb
A story repeats itself for Knöpfle.
For the second time she is on the list of local elections of 2020 - she got 813 valid votes - in the first place to move up.
She had already moved into the committee in 2015 after Walter Rutz resigned his position after eleven months due to his new job as plant manager.
Successor with experience
The mother of two daughters did not hesitate and immediately agreed. "I had myself put on the list, so I can't say, 'I'm not going to do that now,'" she emphasizes. Shortly after the conversation with Rödl, she radioed parliamentary group member Eugen Huber. That same evening, the judgment councils met to talk internally about the change in staff. According to her, it has not yet been clarified whether the 55-year-old, like Burkhart, will take her place in construction and as a representative on the audit committee.
But Knöpfle already knows what is in bloom. From experience. “You have to be able to suffer to a certain extent.” On the one hand, because the mandate takes up a lot of time due to the numerous and sometimes long meetings. On the other hand, because the culture of debate is considered to be pronounced. “The Oberammergau council is a challenge,” she emphasizes. One that she trusts herself again. Knöpfle, who rents out holiday apartments, sees her focus on the tourist sector and village design. She would also like to act as a mediator between the men - in the committee as well as in her parliamentary group - when things get really tough. Although she certainly admits: "Women also have their own mind."