The new college of B&W introduces itself

'Being in your own city doing something for people gives me energy!'

Passport Alexander Geers

Political party: Burgerbelangen Kerkrade
Born on: July 20, 1993
Lives in: Terwinselen
Portfolio: Economic Affairs, Traffic and Transport, Public Space, Center Management, District Development and District Councilor North.
Experience: I have been a councilor for eight years. In addition, until recently I have worked as an administrative and management consultant within the municipality of Gulpen-Wittem.

Which person would you still like to meet and why?
There is no specific person I would like to meet. I want to meet as many people as possible because you can learn something from everyone. Everyone has something special or unique and is good at something else. Every time you meet someone your own worldview widens. Everyone has a story and it is never the same.

What achievement are you most proud of?
I am not really proud anytime soon. However, I do try to be the best version of myself every day. I also try to achieve the maximum result for the residents of Kerkrade. When I have achieved a result for people or for our town, I look back with satisfaction and sometimes even pride.

What do the people of Kerkrade not yet know about you?
I think there's a fair amount they don't yet know about me. Take soccer: that's a big hobby and passion for me. I've played soccer all my life, but I recently stopped because it was no longer easy to combine with my work.

What were the first two months as Alderman like?
The work is very varied. You get a lot of new impressions. I have also met many inspiring people. For me, the position was not entirely new because of my work history as an administrative consultant. I already knew what to expect. The aldermanship has been very good so far. I even think it's a shame that we are now in recess, because I would have liked to continue. We will certainly do that after the recess.

What can citizens expect from you? What will you stand up for in the coming years?
I will not promise anything I cannot deliver. I will make every effort to get things done, but I will not make any false promises. In addition, clear communication and the quick and proper handling of reports from citizens who come to us is also an important theme. Important here is that I, as an administrator, am approachable and open to signals from society. Of course, as a city we also have a number of challenges that we must take up in the coming years. Think for example of the vacancy / livability in the center. This requires an innovative approach and an integral view of the center of the future. But also the neighborhoods require a good focus. For example, we want to improve the accessibility of Kerkrade West. For citizens, but also for the business parks. There will be many new jobs and companies in the coming years; our business parks are very popular. There are opportunities there for our residents and we want to facilitate that well.

What drove you to become politically active?
Politics was not an issue in the entrepreneurial family I grew up in. Still, I felt a political drive. My main drive is that I believe that to improve the world, you have to start with yourself and do something yourself. I also felt it was important for young people to have a voice in politics. That's why I ran for office as soon as I could. I can mean something to others through politics and that is what makes local politics so beautiful. You can also see the impact directly. Meaning something to people in your own city gives me energy.