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Lord Mayor Thomas Westphal: First day of work in office with a lucky charm on the desk
Thomas Westphal took up his post as Lord Mayor of Dortmund. On his first day of work on Monday, November 2nd, he moved into his new office – but not in the town hall, which is currently closed due to the renovation.
The new Lord Mayor Thomas Westphal has been working at his desk on the 4th floor at Südwall 21-23 in the former Volkswohlbund building since 7:30 a.m. It is an alternative quarter for the next few years, as the town hall on Friedensplatz will be temporarily closed for renovation.
Oberbürgermeister Thomas Westphal neben einem Portrait von Altbürgermeister Günter Samtlebe
Bild(Bildlizenz/Fotograf/Grafiker): Dortmund-Agentur / Roland Gorecki
After an initial meeting with members of his staff at 8:00 a.m., in which, among other things, the current corona situation was the topic, Mayor Westphal welcomed Dortmund media representatives at a press conference around noon – and stated: “New building, newer space, new Lord Mayor. All in one day, that doesn’t necessarily make it easier, since we’re just moving in here. But my temporary study and duty room has already been prepared.
Westphal also makes it clear: “Today is not the day I want to announce what will happen in the next 100 days. There will still be enough opportunities for that.” But it is the day on which he opened the 4th Digital Week with a video message in the morning. “I was very pleased. It is the first time it is taking place in this form. There are no physical face-to-face events this time – but over 150 digital appointments this week, an increase compared to last year,” emphasized the mayor.
His first day at work as Lord Mayor is a special day for Westphal. That’s why he brought three things with him that he received or collected during the election campaign. They tell stories and have acquired an important meaning for him.
First Westphal presented a “Daruma” – the Japanese lucky charm par excellence. A figure made of paper mache, the bottom of which is weighed down with a weight so that it never falls over, but instead straightens up again and again. A stand-up man who exemplifies the courage to stand up in every imaginable situation. “A Japanese stand-up man fits in with Dortmund, which shows: you just don’t lie down when something happens to you, you get up again and life goes on.” Coming from the Buddhist tradition, the figure also stands for serenity. “That is a good maxim for what is pending. Especially when you consider that this term of office begins in outstanding other times,” says the mayor.
Westphal was particularly impressed by the ritual associated with this little red talisman: It consists in the fact that the person who received the Daruma can make a quiet wish. Then the recipient paints one eye of the lucky charm black and sets it up so that he can see it every day. “I did that,” said Westphal, “he was standing in my office during the election campaign. When what you wanted comes true, you can color in the other eye with a black pen.” He said it, grabbed the black pencil and painted the other eye. A second object that Lord Mayor Westphal brought with him is a VfL Kemminghausen pennant, while the third gift Westphal received the shortly before he took office. A cleaning sponge with the “Brilliance” logo from EDG and BVB. “That was related to the election campaign. But I also related to what you have to do now in the work of a Lord Mayor and all together in the Council: For the success and the best of this city – we all have to do a brilliant job together. I want to work on that and promise that we can do it, “said Westphal.
Main photo: Bild(Bildlizenz/Fotograf/Grafiker): Dortmund-Agentur / Roland Gorecki
