#3 Eddy Baertsoen

WHO AM I?

I am Eddy BAERTSOEN and have been living at 59 Astrid Avenue in Wezembeek-Oppem since 1986. I am now a young retiree of 65 years, married to Marijke and father of two adult daughters Jana and Céline and opie of Axel.

As a French teacher, I had a career in education and as a consultant in the marketing and communication world a.o. at the PR department and social service of Defense/CDSCA-OCASC and at the Ostend-Doverline.

Active in sports association life for nearly 50 years (as a goalkeeper/coach/secretary with several indoor soccer clubs) and in the Marmot neighbourhood. Also a member of the municipal advisory committee Sports Infrastructure and vice president of Sports Council Wezembeek-Oppem.

Politically committed as a social liberal, current board member Open Vld Wezembeek-Oppem with a social, dynamic and free-thinking attitude.

My Motivations

Local politics must be even closer to the population: this can be done by better questioning through surveys and neighborhood councils. Also, the language discussions must disappear (no more monolingual lists) and the priority is everyday well-being. The municipality can play a more supportive role here.

Megalomaniac projects should be avoided and should be checked off against real needs. Safety in traffic and in society must be further improved by more district orientation. Public infrastructure must be made more widely available.

my Priorities

1. Safety in traffic and society. Adaptations to the mobility situation (traffic friendly for cars and cyclists) and increased surveillance in the neighbourhoods.

2. The sports infrastructure should be more diversified not only tennis, soccer or field hockey. There should be motivating initiatives to broaden the practice of sports.

3. Through more neighbourhood-oriented actions, bring the population closer together and let the associations make optimal use of the public infrastructure. Particular attention should be paid to young people and the elderly.

4. A municipality that supports local economic activity.