As of: February 1, 2024, 11:00 a.m
By: Christiane Mühlbauer
Comments
Press
Split
Vice Mayor Thomas Eberl (left) sworn in his UWK parliamentary group colleague Jens Müller as the new mayor and congratulated him.
© arp
The new mayor of Kochl, Jens Müller, was sworn in on Tuesday in the local council and gave a speech in which he also talked about some of the key aspects of his work.
The successor has now been confirmed on the UWK list.
Kochel am See - 17 listeners came when the new Kochl mayor Jens Müller was sworn in before the local council on Tuesday.
The ceremony was carried out by Second Mayor Thomas Eberl, who, like Müller, is a member of the Independent Voters' Community of Kochel (UWK).
Eberl had run the business together with Third Mayor Veronika Lautenbacher (CSU) for the past three months.
Eberl thanked her and town hall manager Nicole Lutterer with a bouquet of flowers.
Pressure from citizens
Müller gave a speech after his swearing in.
“I see every single vote as a mandate for the office of mayor,” he said, not only thanking his voters, but also thanking everyone who voted.
A low turnout in a local election is unfortunately not unusual, he said, referring to the 54.1 percent in the runoff election.
For him, it is an incentive to involve citizens in local political work in the coming years.
This can be achieved in the local council “through solidarity and good work”.
He asked for patience until he had familiarized himself with all the topics in a few weeks.
During the interview rounds during the election campaign he was “tough on him” and was given a lot of topics.
“I learned: As a mayor you need a doer and not an administrator,” said Müller.
He also felt that there was a lot of pressure on a mayor, “even though it is not defined that way by the legislature.”
He sees himself as “a caretaker” and a moderator as well as head of administration and someone who implements the local council’s decisions.
Binding the districts of Ried and Walchensee more closely to Kochel again
He already experienced what was expected of a mayor on his first day at work - namely calls about what would happen to the village shop in Walchensee or the flea market in the Trimini parking lot, for example.
“I try to mediate, but not all interests can be realized.” He wants to be an “idea generator” who sets and directs initiatives.
Müller continued that he wanted to give the districts of Ried and Walchensee “the feeling that they belong to the community of Kochel.”
During the election campaign he learned “that there is still room for improvement.”
He mentioned the idea of holding a council meeting there once a year or holding a citizens' meeting.
“It’s worth the effort to me.”
(Our Bad Tölz newsletter regularly informs you about all important stories from your region. Sign up here.)
My news
Scrap-ready truck on the B472: Police are targeting others involved
Paraglider gets caught in the cable car: pilot hangs upside down over the piste readings
Benediktbeuern decides to build asylum accommodation - mayor feels left alone read
Trainee shows Hitler salute: Lenggrieser has to pay 450 euros
District Administrator Josef Niedermaier: “We will have to make sacrifices” read
District properties: The money is only enough for the highest priority reading
Citizen participation in “practicing projects”
For the first time, Müller also spoke of citizen participation - this was an issue that his competitor Rosi Marksteiner (center) had taken up during the election campaign.
If “there is still a need beyond the elected body of the local council,” says Müller, then one could “practice” citizen participation in projects.
He cited the lake promenade as an example.
“It would have made sense there, but the clinic is now being built there.” But perhaps you can find another project for citizen participation – also with a view to possible funding.
Local council speakers should be more involved
In recent months, the culture of discussion in the local council has not always been good.
Müller also addressed this.
“Every opinion is heard, tolerated and valuable,” he said.
Solutions will be found for all important issues, such as socially oriented land use (Sobon), “that are justifiable for everyone”.
He could also imagine introducing a decision-making building committee - “then we have time for other topics in council meetings.
“We sometimes drown in the agenda.”
The new mayor also suggested that speakers be more involved.
They could “form groups” in the council and take initiative on various issues.
He is happy about his new position and is “very keen to work together in the local council,” said the lawyer.
And emphasized one thing: “For me there are no parties and no factions.”
On Wednesday, in response to a query from Kurier, the local administration announced that Maria Bäck was moving up to the local council for the UWK.
She will be sworn in at the February session.