Former city councilors: Special honor for Zacherle and Schmid

Kempten - Dieter Zacherle and Josef Leonhard Schmid stand out with their exceptionally long time as city councilors.

Mayor Thomas Kiechle praised this.

It was a session of superlatives.

On Tuesday, Lord Mayor Thomas Kiechle ceremoniously adopted the outgoing city councilors from the 2014 to 2020 term of office. No less than 18 former councilors received an award, including the "dinosaur" Dieter Zacherle with the longest term in Kempten of 48 years and Josef Leonhard Schmid, who almost equaled at the age of 42.

And because of the pandemic, the councils had to wait a year and a half for their adoption.

But thanks to 3G, it was again full in the large conference room.

Many of the "alumni" had brought their spouses with them.

Numerous flower arrangements underlined the gratitude of the city.

“It deserves respect that you have devoted a lot of your time, your vigor, your energy to civic engagement,” said the mayor in the direction of the outgoing councilors, and immediately pushed his thanks to the relatives: “With one City council work often means that there is little room left for people close to you or for other interests. "

Successful city council period 2014-2020

And the mayor was proud of the work that the city councils did in the 2014-2020 period. He recalled the first debt-free core budget in Bavaria, the mobility concept 2030, the new, already awarded Kempten Museum and the dynamic population development of the city, awards such as the two European Energy Awards in gold or certification as a Bavarian educational region.

In his usual direct and humorous way, the “city council dinosaur” Dieter Zacherle also pointed out projects that are still awaiting implementation, such as the renovation of the hooded lock and Lindenberg school or “blooming flowers” ​​in the city park. With 48 years of membership, Zacherle holds the Kempten “City Council all time record” and received a certificate and a collage with Kempten views. "You probably hardly know which committees and bodies you sat in," said the mayor, impressed by so much commitment. Zacherle was third mayor from 1996 to 2008, then free voter chairman until 2014 and “for almost a quarter of a century” the festival commissioner. He managed to get close to people and help them.He has already received numerous honors for this in the past.

"Thomas, I've finished"

As usual, the former city councilor insisted on giving a short speech in which there was an indirect swipe for the outgoing city councilors and the mayor for many projects that ended up being more expensive than initially estimated.

"Thomas, I've finished!" He concluded.

He told the messenger that he was looking at developments in the city from a different angle after a one-year break.

Even after such a long voluntary period in which Zacherle enjoyed being able to make a difference, he was not sad to stop now.

Rather, he wishes the current city council every success with the upcoming decisions.

Josef Leonhard Schmid worked on the Kempten city council for almost as long, namely 42 years.

Of these, he was Deputy Mayor for twelve years.

This was followed by a term of office as a representative for economic issues and the Allgäu Festival Week.

Schmid's whole work draws competence and objectivity, the mayor praised the achievements of the long-standing city council member.

Schmid has also received numerous honors in previous years and can now call a Kempten collage and a certificate his own.

Schmid: More time for the family

With Josef Leonhard Schmid there can be no question of quitting. In addition to his professional activity as a lawyer, which he still fully practices, he was recently re-elected district chairman of the SME Union. Because he is out and about a lot, he says he can maintain the valuable contacts and friendships from the city council. But he is now looking forward to more time for his family life with three children and five grandchildren. What Schmid is not missing from the city council are "ineffective debates", as he says. That is the current difficulty. However, many problems and the numerous companies in Kempten demanded quick decisions. “I am happy when the leadership of the OB leads us to move forward. It does that too, ”says Schmid.

The former Second Mayor was proud of the fact that in his early term in office he had succeeded in preventing a huge department store from being built in the Engelhaldepark area.

"Kempten should retain its special position with its historical features and its green structure and build on it," he wishes.

Another article on the adoption of the city councils will appear in the upcoming Wednesday edition of the

Kreisbote

and on the homepage.