Herdeck‘s New Mayor Sworn In, Urges Others Not to Be Silenced After Attack
Iris Stalzer was sworn in as the new mayor of Herdeck this week, delivering a message of resilience and encouragement following a knife attack that occurred during a public event in late July. In her inaugural speech, Stalzer affirmed her ability to meet the challenges of the office, stating, “It’s not crucial to always have everything under control…but rather not to lose your inner compass and orientation, even when your own little world is falling apart.”
The attack, and the subsequent media coverage, deeply impacted Stalzer and her family. She expressed her distress over the publication of images depicting her being transported to a rescue helicopter, and particularly over pictures of her children – even pixelated ones – taken during a chaotic and uncertain situation. “I found and still find this extremely difficult,” she said in a recent interview, emphasizing the special legal protections afforded to minors.
Stalzer, who was not a prominent public figure at the time of the attack but was beginning to gain recognition, felt the media could have exercised more discretion. “I’m not a federal politician or a person who has any kind of national meaning. I think they could have been a little more considerate.I also think that legal boundaries were exceeded at one point or another, unfortunately.”
The aftermath of the attack also brought a wave of hateful and inflammatory messages, some of which targeted her children based on their countries of origin. Stalzer noted she was surprised by how information that was intended to remain private became public.
Despite the ordeal, Stalzer received notable encouragement and has the full support of her husband and her party. A self-employed lawyer with 20 years of experience in local politics, she issued an “urgent appeal” to others who might hesitate to enter public service due to personal circumstances. “If only people with perfect families were allowed to get involved, it would distort society,” she stated. “For some, life may be a pony farm, for most it is not. And now that I’ve been dragged into the public eye with this, I want to say very clearly to everyone it affects: don’t hide, don’t be ashamed.”
As mayor, Stalzer will oversee an administration of approximately 380 employees. She also faces the personal challenge of navigating the youth welfare office, currently responsible for the care of her daughter and son.The city administration has implemented organizational measures to prevent any potential conflicts of interest. The situation surrounding her children remains ongoing, with a court hearing scheduled to address the matter, and reports that Stalzer and her husband had decided to no longer take the children in with them remained unconfirmed as of Tuesday.
