Köniz Council Candidates Discuss Key Issues

Köniz residents will elect a new parliament and municipal council this Sunday. Bern News Today interviewed five leading candidates for the executive council to understand their qualifications and priorities for the upcoming legislative period. These candidates shared their views on critical topics such as finances, traffic, and family policy, offering insights into their vision for the municipality's future.

Dominic Amacher: Experience and Financial Discipline

Dominic Amacher, a candidate for the FDP, highlights his extensive experience as a business manager and long-term parliamentarian. He believes the municipal council needs resilient, engaged individuals with leadership experience and a problem-solving approach. Amacher emphasizes his deep understanding of both the private sector and political processes.

"In the municipal council, we need resilient, engaged individuals who have leadership experience and are solution-oriented," Amacher stated. He added that his background as a father of three gives him insight into the education system, and his involvement in various associations shows his community ties.

Priorities for Köniz

Amacher identifies the cost-conscious implementation of planned investments and maintenance of municipal infrastructure as the most urgent tasks for the next legislative period. He notes that the current shortage of skilled workers makes this especially challenging, requiring a realistic view of what is achievable. His knowledge from the construction sector is expected to contribute significantly to these goals.

Regarding specific topics, Amacher advocates for tight control over finances and debt. He stresses that the financial plan, particularly operational losses, requires maximum attention. For traffic, he calls for sustainable solutions that ensure smooth flow for all road users, which is crucial for local businesses. In family policy, Amacher supports maintaining existing voluntary family services through prudent financial management, critically reviewing new expenditures to protect these offerings.

"The flood of initiatives with many unfunded promises ties up the administration and reduces time for truly important decisions," Dominic Amacher said, expressing his frustration with the political opposition.

Amacher describes himself as a team player who remains calm under pressure. He brings experience for clear and bold decisions. He is also broadly interested, resilient, and optimistic, with a sense of humor. He admits to becoming impatient when things do not run smoothly.

Géraldine Boesch: Networking and Balanced Growth

Géraldine Boesch, representing the SP, highlights her experience as a department head at the Regional Conference Bern-Mittelland (RKBM). This role has provided her with a strong political network and a clear understanding of administrative processes. She believes her ability to look beyond municipal borders is valuable for Köniz.

"My view beyond municipal borders is valuable for Köniz," Boesch explained. She also stated that she is accustomed to finding broad-based solutions. Boesch describes herself as proactive and a careful listener.

Priorities for Köniz

Boesch emphasizes that Köniz is an attractive and growing municipality. Therefore, she believes it is essential to prioritize and plan future investments, especially in school infrastructure, wisely. She advocates for a stronger integration of social, ecological, and economic considerations in these plans.

On finances, Boesch argues that underinvesting in education, innovation, and infrastructure will hinder Köniz's progress. She views self-imposed municipal financial restrictions as unnecessary, given existing cantonal regulations. For traffic, she supports separating traffic flows and expanding bicycle infrastructure to improve safety. She mentioned the recent submission of the SP Köniz's bicycle petition with approximately 1,000 signatures. In family policy, Boesch stresses the importance of affordable, supplementary childcare for balancing work and family life, benefiting the economy.

"That political cooperation is not shaped by shared content, but by the desire to maintain power," Boesch noted as her biggest frustration with the political opposition. She calls for a shared vision for Köniz.

Boesch briefly describes herself as "overwhelming and modest." Beyond the mentioned topics, she also considers socially responsible environmental and climate protection, a strong educational offering, and more affordable housing as urgent issues for Köniz.

Dominique Bühler: Infrastructure and Climate Goals

Dominique Bühler, the Green Party candidate, expresses her dedication to Köniz and its residents. She aims to contribute to the municipality's development with a solution-oriented approach and a broad perspective. Her background includes extensive political experience as a former Köniz parliamentarian, a Grand Councillor, and President of the Grand Council, along with her professional work in an international setting.

Priorities for Köniz

Bühler believes Köniz has underinvested in its infrastructure, particularly concerning climate goals. She advocates for replacing oil and gas heating systems in municipal buildings with renewable energy sources, maximizing solar potential, and further expanding district heating. These measures are crucial for climate protection.

Regarding finances, Bühler is encouraged by positive annual accounts and tax revenue growth, but acknowledges the financial situation remains tight. She insists on continued investment in infrastructure, especially schools, to maintain Köniz's attractiveness. For traffic, she highlights initial steps towards a traffic transition but calls for further expansion of public transport and safer cycling and pedestrian paths. Her goal is to promote "15-minute neighborhoods" where essential services are accessible by foot or bike. In family policy, Bühler addresses the challenge of affordable housing for families, advocating for active municipal land policy and support for non-profit housing developers. She also calls for more childcare options, such as day schools, and additional school facilities to meet the needs of a growing population.

"It annoys me when problems are downplayed or solutions are delayed. We need more courage for change," Dominique Bühler stated, describing her main annoyance with the political opposition.

Bühler identifies her strengths as listening well and considering different perspectives. She values finding sustainable solutions collaboratively. Her weakness is impatience; she finds it difficult to simply watch when things are blocked.

Kathrin Gilgen: Rural Representation and Fiscal Responsibility

Kathrin Gilgen, the SVP candidate, has lived in Köniz her entire life and emphasizes her deep connection to the community. She has over ten years of political experience in the Köniz parliament, serving on various committees and as Parliament President in 2022. Her political ambition is to secure a seat on the municipal council, without aspirations for cantonal or national offices, ensuring her focus remains on Köniz.

"It is important that someone from the rural part of Köniz is also represented in the municipal council," Gilgen highlighted.

Priorities for Köniz

Gilgen's urgent tasks for the next legislative period include coordinating and realizing sufficient school space, implementing investments, and addressing deferred renovations. She also stresses the importance of a citizen-oriented administration.

On finances, Gilgen advocates for a responsible and disciplined approach to public funds and taxes. She calls for a restrictive financial policy, citing high per capita debt. For traffic, she believes the needs of all road users must be considered, with traffic separation where possible, and sufficient parking spaces. In family policy, Gilgen notes the many attractive municipal offerings, the growing day school program, and the excellent work-life balance conditions within the Köniz administration.

"It's not an annoyance, but ideological positions and theories often lead to difficult and unrealistic regulations and conditions," Kathrin Gilgen commented on her view of the political opposition. She believes these are often impractical or very costly to implement.

Gilgen describes herself as selfless, balanced, and optimistic. She is a good listener and observer. She admits to often putting her own interests aside, which she acknowledges can be unhealthy for her personally, though positive for an employer.

Thomas Marti: Financial Maneuverability and Modern Mobility

Thomas Marti, representing the Green Liberals, brings 20 years of leadership experience from the private sector, public administration, and the municipal council. He understands Köniz's challenges and the workings of politics and administration.

Priorities for Köniz

Marti's top priority is preserving the municipality's financial flexibility to enable necessary projects. He notes that Köniz needs to catch up on renovating and expanding school buildings. Additionally, football fields and gymnasiums require renewal and expansion. Roads, public squares, and water/sewage systems must be adapted to future climatic conditions, such as heavy rainfall, higher temperatures, and dry periods.

Regarding finances, Marti acknowledges that the municipality's financial situation has stabilized. However, significant investments are planned. To fund these, he believes Köniz must increase its efforts in area development to generate more revenue quickly. For mobility, he argues that necessary capacity for all traffic types (individual, public, cycling, and pedestrian) must be provided without additional land use. The solution lies in more "software" (smart solutions) rather than "hardware" (new infrastructure), requiring better cooperation among federal, cantonal, and municipal levels. In family policy, Marti advocates for comprehensive full-day school models to better support families in balancing work and childcare.

"The political center, which I represent, even has two opposing sides. From the bourgeois side, we are seen as left-wing; from the left-green side, as bourgeois," Thomas Marti stated, expressing his frustration. He emphasizes that municipal politics should focus on majority-backed solutions for concrete problems, which he believes have no political alignment but are fact-based and serve the common good.

Marti describes himself as curious and generally a good listener. He forms opinions based on facts. He admits to not always being very patient and states that he cannot dance salsa.