Elke Kahr is Graz’s first-ever female mayor

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Graz, Austria’s second-largest city, has been led by mayor Elke Kahr since 2021. 60-year old Kahr has previously served as a city councillor in the municipal government since 2005. She was also the city’s vice mayor from June 2016 to April 2017. Mayor Kahr is an ambitious leader who successfully maintains Graz’s reputation of a vibrant university city with a strong cultural core, while at the same time looking ahead into the future and making sure new challenges are properly addressed.

Kahr is also the first-ever female mayor of Graz. Following the 2021 Graz local elections, Kahr was elected mayor by the Gemeinderat in November, receiving 28 votes out of 46. Following the election, Kahr stated that some of her priorities were tackling the housing problem, increasing the city’s rent deposit fund, expanding benefits and reducing the fees for public kindergartens.

Since entering politics, mayor of Graz has been involved in a variety of community and social initiatives, and he has contributed to the Graz KP’s emphasis on housing policies. She has gained popularity as a housing councillor, particularly for her work with the “tenant helpline,” which provides renters with financial and legal assistance. 

Another one of her goals as mayor of Graz is to raise the living standards of residents with low-income. At the same time, mayor Kahr is very determined to deal with the environmental problems and also fight for women’s rights. Her appointment as the mayor of Graz is said to be a new chapter in the history of this charming Austrian city which is home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Mobility issues are now also tackled in Graz, as part of the efforts to combat the negative impacts of climate change. The city is actively working on promoting cycling with the ultimate goal of eliminating cars from the city’s centre by 2030. The cycling master plan “Radoffensive 2030” aims to make Graz one of Europe’s leading cycling cities. 

This impressive policy, as well as all other climate and sustainability efforts that are being taken in Graz, will make the city much greener. Mayor Kahr has already taken numerous major steps which are guaranteed to benefit all Graz residents in the near future. (photo: © Silvana Weidinger/Graz official website)