Papenburg can do more. But not on its own.

There are some decisions you don’t just make on a whim. For me, the decision to stand for election as mayor of my home town is one of them.

I’ve thought long and hard about this. Not because I don’t know what I want, but because I know what this role entails: responsibility for an entire town, for people with very different lifestyles, expectations and ideas about how Papenburg should develop.

And that is precisely why I am standing for election. Because I believe in Papenburg. I believe this town can achieve more. More for families. More for young people. More for our businesses. More for our neighbourhoods. More for voluntary work. More in terms of digitalisation and administration. And, above all, more if we talk to one another rather than about one another.

I have a background in business and am familiar with public administration

My career path has shaped me. With over 25 years’ professional experience, including 8 years working in this city’s economic development department, I have come to know both sides of the coin.

I understand the business world and know what a company needs if it wants to invest, create jobs and take responsibility for our city. And I understand public administration. I know how political decisions are made, where processes become complicated, and how important it is for people that the administration acts reliably.

I now see this connection as a great strength. After all, a city does not function in isolation. The economy, the administration, politics and society must all work together.

I don’t want to be the mayor who has a quick answer for everything. I want to be the mayor who asks the right questions, listens, brings together different interests, and then makes a decision.

For me, listening is not a campaign strategy

Over the past few months, I have had many conversations. With business owners. With families. With young people. With members of our clubs and associations. With farmers. With people from all parts of the town. With those who are satisfied, and just as much with those who say: ‘Things cannot go on like this.’

I think both are important. Because, to me, being a mayor doesn’t just mean listening to people who agree with me anyway. For me, democracy begins when we can tolerate differing opinions and still seek solutions together.

That is why I want to shape politics differently: closer to the people, with clearer decision-making and more reliable implementation.

The town hall must be there for the people

One sentence is particularly important to me in this regard. The town hall is there for everyone.

Anyone submitting a planning application, looking to set up a business, seeking support for a voluntary organisation, or simply having a question for the council, should not feel as though they are being passed from one department to the next.

I want a public administration that is service-oriented. A public administration that does not view digitalisation as an end in itself, but as a way of making things easier. A public administration that explains why something isn’t possible, and that is just as keen to find out how it can be made possible.

And I want to ensure that responsibility doesn’t get lost somewhere between different areas of competence. After all, at the end of the day, you don’t care which department or division is responsible. You just want your issue to be resolved.

For me, ‘City of Enablers’ is more than just a slogan

Papenburg, the City of Enablers, is not just a nice headline on a poster to me. It’s a mindset.

A young person who is studying here and would like to find a flat afterwards should see opportunities in Papenburg. A family that wants to stay here or move here should be able to find suitable and affordable housing. A business looking to expand should find favourable conditions here. And anyone involved in voluntary work should feel that their efforts are recognised and supported.

Anyone who has an idea for our town shouldn’t be told straight away why it’s difficult. Instead: let’s see how we can make it work.

Of course, not everything will be possible straight away. We have limited resources. We have to set priorities. And there will be decisions that not everyone will be happy with. But that is precisely when we need a mayor who is open about what is possible, what is not possible, and why. For me, part of taking responsibility is also speaking uncomfortable truths.

I don’t want to manage what is. I want to shape what is to come.

Papenburg is facing some crucial years ahead. We need to discuss how we can make our infrastructure fit for the future. How we can create housing. How we can safeguard our economy and jobs. How we can offer young people prospects for the future. How we can strengthen our local neighbourhoods. How we can maintain voluntary work and a sense of community. And what a modern local government should look like.

I’m not trying to speak ill of what we have here. Quite the opposite. I know just how much is being achieved in this town – by the town’s staff, by local businesses, by clubs and societies, by the many volunteers, and by everyone who takes on responsibility every day. We can build on that. But we mustn’t rest on our laurels.

Why I am standing for election

Perhaps that is the most important question of all. Why am I doing this?

I am standing for election because I want to take on responsibility. Because I believe that my experience in business and public administration, my ability to listen and bring people together, and my vision for the future of this city can make a difference.

And because I am convinced that leadership does not mean always being at the forefront. Sometimes leadership means giving others space. Sometimes it means enduring a conflict. Sometimes it means making a decision, even if it is uncomfortable. And sometimes it simply means saying: ‘I’ll take care of it.’

That’s exactly the sort of mayor I’d like to be. Approachable. Straightforward. Dependable. Someone who listens, but who is also prepared to make decisions and stand by them.

Papenburg can do more. Together.

I’m standing for election not because I think Papenburg is doing everything wrong, but because I believe Papenburg is capable of so much more.

And I know that a mayor cannot do this alone. She needs the people of this town. The ideas of its residents. The commitment of its clubs and societies. The innovative spirit of our businesses. The experience of our local government. The fresh perspectives of our young people. And the courage to try new approaches from time to time.

That is why my understanding of politics is not: ‘I know what is right for you.’ My understanding is different. We listen. We discuss. We decide. We get things done. And we take responsibility together.

Because Papenburg isn’t just a town that needs to be run. Papenburg is a town that we can shape together. That is precisely why I want to become mayor.

What else can your Papenburg do? Feel free to get in touch, either by email or via the contact form. I’ll have a look and get back to you.