Dr. Ulrich Maly was born in Nuremberg on 8 August, 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 between 1985 and 1990 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 financing 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 Key Issues in Municipal Policy:
Education and fairness; employment in Nuremberg; regional strategic alliances (e.g. the Nuremberg European Metropolitan Region); urban development and traffic, culture and quality of life as location factors.
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.
He is also committed to respect for human rights. In October 2004, the City of Nuremberg signed the European Charter for the Protection of Human Rights in the City and, in co-operation with UNESCO, initiated the “European Coalition of Cities against Racism“. In linking the issues of “integration” and “human rights”, the city initiated a future-oriented social political decision. The Documentation Centre Nazi Party Rally Grounds and the Memorium Nuremberg Trials were created as a responsible combination of historic remembrance and future-oriented universal human rights education.
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 un-bureaucratic solutions and great personal commitment. He advocates the establishment of additional 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. he revitalisation of the former AEG compound as well as new uses for the former Quelle compound are further important projects for the development of Nuremberg as a business location. All these major development projects can only be implemented through dialogue between owners, investors, administration and municipal politics. Here, Dr. Maly sees his role as that of a mediator between various interests.
An Office with Many Functions
In his function as Lord Mayor of the City of Nuremberg, Dr. Ulrich Maly fulfils numerous tasks and functions. These include:
Chairman of the supervisory board of various municipal subsidiaries, such as the Städtische Werke Nürnberg (public utility company), the Wohnungsbaugesellschaft Nürnberg mbH (housing company) and the N-ERGIE (energy and water company) as well as NürnbergMesse (trade fair and exhibition company).He is also a member of the supervisory board of Airport Nürnberg and the Thüga Holding & Co. KGaA (energy holding company).
Chairman of the Bavarian Association of Cities and Towns and deputy chairman of the Association of German Cities and Towns.
Chairman of the Council of the Nuremberg European Metropolitan Region
Chairman of the jury for the "Nuremberg International Human Rights Award"
Deputy Chairman of the Foundation Council for the "Foundation Nuremberg State Theatre"
Chairman of various foundations, including the "Future Foundation for the City of Nuremberg of the Sparkasse Nuremberg (Savings Bank)"
Chairman of the Convention and Tourist Centre Nuremberg and the German-American Institute (DAI) and other associations.
Dr Ulrich Maly has been a member of the SPD (Social Democratic Party of Germany) since 1984. He is a member of the SPD’s Federal and Bavarian State executive councils.
