Rheinberg has real potential — in its districts, its businesses, its volunteers. As group leader, I stand for politics that turns that potential into progress: decide soundly, invest boldly, take responsibility. Below is our group's policy line — and my personal commitment as its chair.
Our principle: decide soundly, invest boldly, take responsibility — rather than politics that mainly debates what's difficult.
The 2026 budget projects roughly €122.1M in expenditure against roughly €103.4M in revenue, plus over €41M in investment, largely debt-financed. Budget discipline means: review structures and processes before asking citizens to pay more.
2026 municipal budgetDigitalization is a means, not an end in itself: less bureaucracy, clear responsibilities, faster decisions, better accessibility.
Developing sites, enabling business relocation, speeding up permits. Economic development must be a top leadership priority — alongside a lively town centre worth spending time in.
Housing, business, transport, schools and climate adaptation belong together. Concept first, then priorities, then implementation — backed by solid data.
A strong municipal enforcement service, consistent action against littering and vandalism, and an administration that takes reported problems seriously.
Enough childcare places, safe school routes, digital equipment that is pedagogically sound and affordable long-term — not just modern-looking.
Borth, Ossenberg, Millingen, Orsoy and the other districts each have their own identity. No politics that decides only from the town centre's point of view.
We don't rubber-stamp proposals, but we don't reject on principle either. We review, question, and say how things can be done better — responsibility over symbolic politics.
As group leader, I bring the same thinking into the council chamber that I've used to lead companies for 25 years. This is my personal contribution to the group's work — more pointed and more closely tied to my professional background than a party platform can be.
"I read a municipal budget the way I'd read a balance sheet — with the same rigour I applied as Managing Director when I carried revenue and cost responsibility. Before I support a tax increase, I want to know whether the administration itself can operate more efficiently."
"eIDAS, secure digital delivery, trust services — these are exactly the topics I've driven professionally for years. Rheinberg should benefit from that experience instead of reinventing digitalization locally."
"Through my association work at BITMi, I know first-hand how mid-sized businesses experience bureaucracy and permitting processes — I bring that knowledge directly into Rheinberg's economic development work."
"Long-term investment decisions deserve the same discipline as a multi-year business case: follow-on costs and risks belong on the table from day one, not after the ground-breaking."
"I've led teams of more than 250 people through restructuring. I bring that experience with accountability under pressure into group leadership: decide, don't defer."
"Here too, what drives me generally applies: optimism doesn't mean playing down problems — it means believing they're solvable once you actually address them."