Karel Loohuis (64) is entering his third term as mayor of the municipality of Hoogeveen. However, he will not do that for the full six years, as he previously announced. Tonight he was sworn in in the council chamber by the King’s Commissioner Jetta Klijnsma. He received praise during the ceremony.
In a packed room, Klijnsma took the floor to make it official. “A reappointment is not self-evident,” said the King’s Commissioner. “Times change and that sometimes calls for new qualities, but the confidential committee has proposed that you be reappointed as mayor. And that is not an easy thing to do. That means that the city council, the organisation, the residents and the mayor are good friends.”
The mayor also addressed the audience himself. Loohuis has been a director for 33 years, of which he has been mayor for 25 years. “Life as an administrator of a municipality is very beautiful and varied, but also intensive and in recent years more and more drastic in the personal sphere. It is nice to have insight into a different phase in my life.” That is also the main reason for him not to complete the full six years.
In the coming period, work will be done on a profile sketch for the new mayor. A successor may take over next year. “It was the wish to arrange the transfer at a good time,” says Loohuis. “Not just before the next municipal elections, but also not right now. The council and the new council have just finished their first year. This way there is peace and continuity.”
Hilma Hooijer, chairman of the Municipal Interests and also chairman of the confidential committee that dealt with the reappointment of Loohuis, spoke on behalf of the council. “What kind of mayor is Karel, really,” she began. “He has a great sense of humor and likes to be among people. And you often are as mayor.”
“You are always looking for harmony, both in the council and in the college. In addition, you have always worked hard for good cooperation with the Zwolle region. But also think of the arrival of the Greek dairy manufacturer Fage.”
The committee received a visit from Klijnsma last year and the recommendation for reappointment was pending. “But the most important thing was, of course, whether you wanted to continue yourself,” Hooijer continues. “You have indicated that you want that, but not for the entire period. That is why the search for a new mayor is starting at the same time and we are going to work on a profile.”
During his speech, Loohuis looked back on the past few years. He said they weren’t always easy. “In good times, when things are going well administratively and financially, managing is relatively easy. But when things get tough financially, strategic choices have to be made with a lot of impact for the future and emotions come into play, then it comes down to it. Then difficult choices have to be made,” says Loohuis.
“Then representatives of the people and administrators are no longer popular. But that’s not what we’re here for. We have conquered the administrative crisis together and have now ended up in calmer waters. We got the ship back on course.”