St. Johann im Pongau

Red city leader wants to tackle projects immediately

Eveline Huber is the first woman to head the district capital.(Bild: Gerhard Schiel)

Eveline Huber is the new mayor of St. Johann im Pongau. She is the first woman and first social democrat to head the town. She now wants to bring a breath of fresh air to the district capital.

Eveline Huber has come to make a difference. That was already the case in 2019 and in the most recent election. Five years ago, Huber and the SPÖ in St. Johann im Pongau were able to break the ÖVP's absolute majority in the municipality. In March 2024, the Social Democrats won more seats. And: Eveline Huber became the first female mayor of the Pongau district capital.

"People want change. I want to bring this breath of fresh air," says the 53-year-old just under a week after the election. "I want to put St. Johann back in the right light, out of the shadows." Huber, who has held countless jobs at home and abroad in her life, was most recently not only Deputy Mayor, but also a social worker. Now she is becoming a full-time city manager.

"The color red doesn't suit me"
For the first time, Huber is a red woman at the helm of the Pongau district capital. And she doesn't even particularly like the color red. In both elections, the mother of two wore a striking yellow trouser suit. "The color red doesn't suit me," she laughs. Nevertheless, Huber remains fully committed to the SPÖ.

The area at the prominent post office site in the center has been lying fallow for years(Bild: Gerhard Schiel)

She wants to implement concrete projects quickly, such as the meeting zone in the center or the expansion of childcare ("Mikado" project). The municipality has already made the necessary decisions in the recent past. However, the post office area, right in the center, remains a problem case after almost five years. Huber is also standing on the brakes: "I know that we have to do something for the site and in the center."

 The matter is not simple, the laying of telecommunications cables, for example, is complex and expensive. The center should soon become greener, fewer cars are a goal. This will take some more discussions and time. But from next Thursday, the day of her inauguration, she wants to tackle all these things.