Lord Mayor of the City of Nuremberg

Dr. Ulrich Maly

Portfolio:

• Mayor's Office
• Officer for Women's Issues
• Press and Information Office
• Auditing Office

 

Personal Details

Dr. Ulrich Maly was born in Nuremberg in 1960. He is married and has two children. He grew up in the city district of Schweinau and attended a secondary school with emphasis on economics. During his alternative community service he worked in the care for disabled children and was active in the care for senior citizens. He has also been doing volunteer work during most of his life. He grew up in youth work, and in the 1980s was the head of the Regional Youth Association (Kreisjugendring). He graduated from the Friedrich-Alexander University in Economic Science in 1987, and then did a PhD in politics on the topic of "Economy and the Environment in Urban Development Politics", an expression of his interest in municipal politics. In his private life, Maly enjoys jogging, walking in the Franconian Jura, hill walking and skiing. He also has a preference for all things Italian, triggered off by a student job in an Italian wine store, which also influences the menus prepared by the passionate hobby chef.

Stages of His Political Career

Since January 1984, Dr. Ulrich Maly has been a member of the SPD, since 1967 a member of the "Falken". After graduation, he was executive secretary of the SPD party group in the City Council, and between 1996 and 2002 Treasurer of the City of Nuremberg. Key words for these six years in office: budgeting policies as part of an administrative reform which achieved renown throughout the Federal Republic, creative financing models, such as for the new ice stadium, or the finance concept for the Franken-Stadion for the Football World Cup. As Deputy Mayor in Charge of Finances, Dr. Ulrich Maly introduced cost and performance accounting for the City Administration, prepared the change-over of the accounting system from fiscal accounting to the mercantile accounting system (Doppik) and to the use of standardised software. Since 1 May, 2002, he has been Lord Mayor of his home town.

 

His Political Motto

One important maxim which has influenced his politics was worded by the Italian law philosopher and publicist, Noberto Bobbio: "The major problem of inequality between the people and peoples of the earth has remained just as harsh and insufferable as ever. If you forget that, you cut off your very roots."

Dialogue for a City as a Community Based on Solidarity

Since the beginning of his term of office, as a Lord Mayor, he has fought for the idea of the city as a community based on solidarity: under the heading "Municipal Politics in Dialogue" he has advocated political decisions as the result of comprehensive social discourse. One example for this approach is the concept of "mobile citizens' meetings" introduced by him: the Lord Mayor, accompanied by the heads of city politics and administration cycles to various city districts and discusses problems with local citizens on the spot.

He declared that the social political task of integration was a matter for decision at top level. He started numerous pilot projects in this context during his term of office, including "Learning by playing in family and city district" which was initiated by him with financial support from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. The project provides targeted support for socially disadvantaged families.

 

Milestones Beyond Nuremberg

The title of "Metropolitan Region" is closely linked to his name. The Nuremberg conurbation was awarded this status in 2005, and Dr. Maly is presently the first president of this region. The conurbation, headed by Nuremberg, has thus been admitted to the Premier League of European regions. And as one of the twelve host cities for the 2006 Football World Cup, the City of Nuremberg also plays in the International Division.

Dr. Maly is also a champion for the protection of human rights. In October 2004, the City of Nuremberg signed the European Charter for the Safeguarding of Human Rights in the City.

With an Eye on Future Generations

Dr. Ulrich Maly tries to tackle the unemployment topic within the scope and possibilities of a municipality, and with unbureaucratic solutions and great personal commitment. He advocates the establishment of addition special vocational classes for unemployed young people, is in constant dialogue with companies, and gets involved again and again in crisis management at the top level of company groups in order to save local jobs.

As a finance expert, Maly tries to consolidate the budget without major draw-backs for the citizens. In spite of municipal debts, he advocates politics with an eye on the future, and particularly an eye on future generations. Education is a high priority for him: for example, money in the budget is earmarked for an extension of after-care in schools, and for establishing children's day care centres.

One of the major challenges faced by the city today is the re-landscaping of about 280 hectares of land – more than twice the size of Nuremberg's Old Town – no longer needed by the Deutsche Bahn AG (German Railway Company). The entire area is available for urban building and marketing. The Lord Mayor agreed with Deutsche Bahn AG and its real estate subsidiaries on a framework agreement which has attracted nation-wide attention, regulating the consensual development of these areas. One important project in this context is the development of a new city district in the southern part of Nuremberg.

An Office with Many Functions

In his function as Lord Mayor of the City of Nuremberg, Dr. Ulrich Maly fulfils numerous tasks and functions:

• This includes being the chairman of the board of various Nuremberg subsidiary companies, such as the Städtische Werke Nürnberg (energy, and public transport provider), the Wohnungsbaugesellschaft Nürnberg mbH (housing provider) and the NürnbergMesse (trade fair and congress company). In addition, he is a member of the board of the N-ERGIE (energy supply company) and the Airport Nürnberg.
• Member of the board of the Bavarian Association of Municipalities and of the board of the German Association of Municipalities
• Member of the Committee of the Regions (Brussels) as a representative of the German Association of Municipalities
• Member of the State and Federal executive committees of the German Social Democratic Party SPD
• Chairman of the jury for the "Nuremberg International Human Rights Award"
• Chairman of the Foundation Council for the "Foundation Nuremberg State Theatre"
• Chairman of various foundations, including the "Future Foundation of the Sparkasse (Savings Bank)"
• Chairman of the Convention and Tourist Centre Nuremberg and the German-American Institute (DAI) and other associations.

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