Dusseldorf - 1999 succeeded the Christian Joachim Erwin, the breakthrough. He dethroned "We Marlies" Smeets in the second round and was Lord Mayor and Chief Executive in one person. The most powerful office in the town now belonged to him.
Give a chance for the ambitious politician, Dusseldorf, a new face. Large construction projects he had pushed through against opposition. The LTU Arena was his favorite child. The construction costs were $ 218 million euros. There were no gains as promised, but has to be reinbuttern the city.
The CDU politician to draw always knew at the crucial threads. While his big dreams of Olympic and World Cup failed, but with Ski World Cup, DTM race at the Kings and millions of plant and clubs were still Dusseldorf to sports.
This was followed Quadrennial, renovation of the Opera and the Federal victory at the Entente Florale. Erwin celebrated his biggest success, last September: The city was debt free. Not least because Erwin had been sold contrary to the citizens' decision but municipal utility shares.
The strongman Erwin dominated all the political tricks. In dealing with the enemy, he was not squeamish. Defeat or criticism, he often met with biting sarcasm.
But even with Nachkarten: So he went his opponent in the 2004 election campaign, Gudrun Hock, for months out of the way, never spoke with her.
A steadfast opposition, he did not know, nobody in the Council has grown this eloquent politician with a phenomenal Gedächnis for data and facts. In his administration there was a tight ship. Prior to his city councilor, he did not mince his words.
Abroad, he pursued extensive advertising for his city: Moscow, New York, Chicago, Sydney. A globetrotter in terms of Dusseldorf. His latest trip took him to China. In the election 2004: Erwin suggests Gudrun Hock.
