Now that Christian Horn-Heinemann has been elected mayor, you are acting CDU chairman. What is the biggest challenge for you in this position?
The CDU Kaarst has worked successfully over the past few years. Many committed members, our executive committee and, of course, Christian Horn-Heinemann as chairman have played a large part in this. With Christian as mayor and a strong parliamentary group, we now bear great responsibility for our town. My task is to keep this strength together and ensure that the CDU remains the reliable political force in Kaarst in the future. This includes being close to the people, listening and at the same time providing guidance when difficult decisions have to be made. Politics is not just about solving today's problems. It is important to me to recognise developments early on and set the right course for the coming years.
Which development are you currently most concerned about?
If you talk to other municipalities at the moment, you quickly realise that many cities are under increasing financial pressure. We are also feeling this trend in Kaarst. Our goal must therefore be to position the town financially in such a way that it remains stable and able to act in the future. This is the only way we can continue to invest in schools, infrastructure and the quality of life in our town. To achieve this, we must make responsible decisions in the coming weeks. This is not always pleasant, but it is one of the tasks of responsible local politics.
If the fairy godmother were to come - what would be your most urgent wish for the CDU Kaarst?
I would like us to remain as firmly anchored in urban society in the future as we are today. Many of our members are involved in associations, initiatives or in business. As a result, we know exactly what moves people in our city. This proximity to the citizens is a great strength of our party. If we succeed in maintaining this rootedness and at the same time attract new members - especially younger people - to become politically involved, then the CDU Kaarst will be very well positioned in the long term.
What are you particularly proud of?
When I look back over the last few years, I am particularly proud of how closely the CDU Kaarst works together. Together with Christian Horn-Heinemann, our deputy chairwoman Elke Bong and the entire executive committee, we have put our party in a very good position. Winning the mayoral election was a strong sign of the citizens' trust in the work of the CDU Kaarst. I am particularly pleased that many members are actively involved - be it in local politics, in associations or in local initiatives. This broad support is the basis for the long-term success of a party.
What does the CDU Kaarst stand for in your view?
When I talk to people in Kaarst, I always realise that they expect one thing above all: reliability.
This is exactly what the CDU Kaarst stands for - reliability and responsibility. We combine economic rationality with social responsibility and have the clear goal of developing our town step by step. This includes good education, sound finances and a strong local economy.
Ultimately, it is about making decisions that are not always comfortable, but are necessary to ensure that Kaarst remains a liveable and viable city in the future.