The new college of B&W introduces itself
In March, Kerkrade residents went to the polls for a new council. At the council meeting on May 25, a new municipal council was appointed. The new council is formed by politicians from four coalition parties and Mayor Petra Dassen- Housen. A team of six aldermen and the mayor will be at the helm of the municipality in the coming years. Together they will continue to build a vital and challenging Kerkrade. In the coming weeks, the members of the council will introduce themselves to you one by one.
'I am for new momentum!'
Passport Jo Paas
Political party: Ouderenpartij Kerkrade (OPK)
Born on: December 2, 1953
Lives at: De Vink
Portfolio: Finance, WMO and Integrated Elderly Policy.
Experience: I studied Dutch law, German language and literature, and trained as a real estate agent. I was an officer in the Army for 7 years. Then I worked for 34 years in various policy and management positions within the municipality of Landgraaf.
Which person would you still like to meet and why?
I couldn't name anyone specifically. I would like to meet someone who has a good, fresh and new view of the world. A visionary.
What achievement are you most proud of?
That eight years ago I founded a new party from scratch, the Ouderenpartij Kerkrade. At the 2014 elections, we had a list with only three candidates but we did win a seat on the municipal council. Since then we have grown steadily and now we have two seats in the council and provide an Alderman to the current college.
What do Kerkrade residents still know not yet know about you?
Oldtimers I like very much. It is wonderful to look for vintage cars, go through the purchase process and then restore them completely. Unfortunately, I have less time for it now. Among other things, I have a Peugeot D4B. This is an old 1964 French bus. This type of bus is nicknamed "Nez de Cochon," translated "pig's nose," due to the position of the radiator protruding in front of the bus. The bus played an important role in the OPK's election campaign.
What were the first two months as Alderman like?
It has been very busy. What makes it busy are many new impressions, policy fields, introductions to people involved, reading up on current and new files and the weekly regular meetings. In addition, you have obligations. And many people and agencies also want to get to know the new Alderman. All this makes it busy, but certainly fun. It is a very nice job, very versatile, in which I get to know many different people.
What can citizens expect from you? What will you stand up for in the coming years?
I am someone who is very socially involved. I will therefore make every effort to work for the citizens of Kerkrade. I would like to work for our citizens with fresh energy. By the way, I may be Alderman Integral Elderly Policy, and I think that's also enormously important, but I also have a big heart for our youth. There used to be many more places for youth to go. Those should come back. Full secondary education, The Martin Buber, is, of course, part of that. I would also like to assist my fellow aldermen in that.
What drove you to become politically active?
From a young age I have been very committed to people, that's where it starts. I wanted to mean something to people. At the time, I felt we could do more for the elderly in our community. That's why I chose to found the Ouderenpartij Kerkrade.