Local/municipal elections will be held across Luxembourg this weekend on Sunday 8 October 2017 and to gain a little more insight and understanding of some candidates running, Chronicle.lu is conducting a mini-series of feature articles. Each feature will focus on one candidate and help the international community uncover the true essence of those behind the flyer.
Third in the mini-series is Frazer Alexander, a candidate standing for the Är Leit party in Lorentzweiler.
Q1: Why are you standing for election in the municipal / local elections?
I served Queen and country in the UK for 10 years and I have a good idea of what it takes to serve people and lead teams within a large organization. With my in-depth experience and competencies of management and leadership, I would like to play an active part in the administration and coordination of my local community.
Q2: Which party are you a candidate with and what does your party stand for?
The Party is called “Är Leit”, meaning “Your People”. We are a local party and not linked to any national party. So hence the name; we are totally independent and can do what the people want us to do. Quite philosophical.
Our strapline is “With You For You” and our party stands for the wellbeing of all the commune, hence the name and the independence from any national party.
Q3: Why are you standing with this party?
The current mayor of Lorentzweiler asked me to join “Är Leit” 15 months ago. The party are a strong team and currently hold the majority in the commune. The other three parties are all directly associated with the national parties (CSV, DP, Déi Greng) and are not free to take as many liberties as a local citizens list.
Q4: What are the main political issues facing your municipality?
Growth of the population is a big issue and one which needs foresightedness to plan for the future, whilst still remaining flexible and maintaining the sustainable resources needed in our municipality. Public transport, traffic problems and accessibility are also political issues that need facilitating and ensuring that the quality of life is maintained and promoted throughout the commune.
Q5: What local issues are you campaigning for?
I would like to see more citizen involvement within the running of our community. That would mean annual forums with workshops, where local residents come together and are encouraged to voice their concerns and needs. As a user and advocate of local transport and a bicycle commuter, I would like to see these issues promoted and improved. So encouraging more people to switch to public transport and to cycle to work, where possible, must be a priority, whilst facilitating the resources. Youth engagement and the societies and clubs create quality of life and we must continue to fully support them.
Q6: Will you be aiming to represent the international community in your municipality?
I will represent any community in my municipality. If they live in my community, they deserve to be heard. And we must make it easier for those new members (and existing) in our society to be heard and understood, in order to make them feel welcome and to ensure their quality of life.
Q7: How do you hope to make a difference?
By creating more transparency and opening the channels of communication between the local council and the residents. Enabling a healthy dialogue is the first step of any democratic process and must be the priority. So communication is my initial priority.
Strategy planning and management procedures are required at the local level, so that we can manage sustainable resources and to be able to plan for the future, whilst simultaneously remaining operational. Coaching and good human resources management must be implemented to make the most of the resources available for the community.
Q8: Why should people vote for you?
I have exceptional credentials in leadership, having served soldiers for over 10 years in the British army. The motto of the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst was “Serve to Lead” and it is one I still believe in today. With a combination of service to the community and listening to residents, I would like to play a part in leading our community in the future. Empathy, loyalty, trust and respect play vital roles in leadership and they are key to connecting with people.
Having gained Luxembourgish citizenship a few years ago, I decided to return to Luxembourg in 2015 due to a love of my “Heemecht”. And there was no other place in my heart other than Lorentzweiler, the commune I grew up in and the one I would like to serve.
