Herwig van Staa
Encyclopedia
Herwig van Staa was the governor of Tyrol
from 2002 to 2008.
Van Staa was born in Linz
, Upper Austria
. His father, who came from the Rhine area, worked as a technician in the steelworks in Linz and died in a sick bay in 1943 after military action on the Eastern Front
. His mother came from an Austrian family and worked as a midwife
. Van Staa attended primary school in Bad Leonfelden (Mühlviertel) and completed his secondary school studies in Wels
, where he passed his 'A' levels in 1960.
since 1960. He studied law, social and economic science, folklore, sociology and medicine. He completed his studies with the following titles: Ph.D., LL.D., Mag.rer.soc.oec. During his studies, he was an active member in Catholic
organisations and held a mandate of the Austrian Students´ Association. He also took an active part in social and environmental issues. He was co-founder and first chairman of the Association for Construction and Promotion of Health and Social Districts in Tyrol.
From 1970 onwards, van Staa was managing director of the Institute for Rural Development, working especially in the field of social and regional research. In 1974, he became university assistant at the Institute for Alpine Agriculture and Forestry at the University of Innsbruck
and has been assistant professor and head of this institute since 1980. Assisted by Ing. Josef Willi, he established the internationally renowned Research Department for Agricultural Ecology at the Institute. Since 1976, he has also been a contract teacher for social science at the Academy of Social Work.
of Innsbruck by the town council with a majority of 35 out of 40 votes.
In spring 1995, van Staa was elected vice president of the Austrian Towns Association. Since July 1995, he has been president of the Austrian Town Platform for the Austrian People's Party
and president of the European Local and Regional Government Association of the European People's Party
.
In July 1996, van Staa was elected vice president of the Chamber of Local Authorities of the Congress of the Council of Europe. In 1998, he became president of the Chamber of Local Authorities of the Congress, and in May, 2002, President of the Congress. Since May 2004 onwards, he has served as past president of the Congress.
In October 2002, he was elected governor
of the Tyrol
Region; in October 2003 he was re-elected governor. Since February 2004, he has been vice president of the Committee of the Regions
and leader of the Austrian delegation.
In the 2008 state election
, he was ousted as Governor of Tyrol by Günther Platter
, but went on to be elected President of the regional parliament (Landtag).
Tyrol (state)
Tyrol is a state or Bundesland, located in the west of Austria. It comprises the Austrian part of the historical region of Tyrol.The state is split into two parts–called North Tyrol and East Tyrol–by a -wide strip of land where the state of Salzburg borders directly on the Italian province of...
from 2002 to 2008.
Van Staa was born in Linz
Linz
Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria . It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is , and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is about...
, Upper Austria
Upper Austria
Upper Austria is one of the nine states or Bundesländer of Austria. Its capital is Linz. Upper Austria borders on Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as on the other Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg...
. His father, who came from the Rhine area, worked as a technician in the steelworks in Linz and died in a sick bay in 1943 after military action on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
. His mother came from an Austrian family and worked as a midwife
Midwifery
Midwifery is a health care profession in which providers offer care to childbearing women during pregnancy, labour and birth, and during the postpartum period. They also help care for the newborn and assist the mother with breastfeeding....
. Van Staa attended primary school in Bad Leonfelden (Mühlviertel) and completed his secondary school studies in Wels
Wels
Wels is the second largest city of the state of Upper Austria, located in the north of Austria, on the Traun River near Linz. It is not part of its surrounding Wels County , but a so-called Statutarstadt . However, Wels is the county seat of Wels-Land.- Geography :Wels is located in the...
, where he passed his 'A' levels in 1960.
Academic life
Van Staa has been living in InnsbruckInnsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
since 1960. He studied law, social and economic science, folklore, sociology and medicine. He completed his studies with the following titles: Ph.D., LL.D., Mag.rer.soc.oec. During his studies, he was an active member in Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
organisations and held a mandate of the Austrian Students´ Association. He also took an active part in social and environmental issues. He was co-founder and first chairman of the Association for Construction and Promotion of Health and Social Districts in Tyrol.
From 1970 onwards, van Staa was managing director of the Institute for Rural Development, working especially in the field of social and regional research. In 1974, he became university assistant at the Institute for Alpine Agriculture and Forestry at the University of Innsbruck
Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck
University of Innsbruck has been a university in Austria since 1669.It is currently the largest education facility in the Austrian Bundesland of Tirol and third largest in Austria according to student population, behind Vienna University and the University of Graz.-History:In 1562 a Jesuit grammar...
and has been assistant professor and head of this institute since 1980. Assisted by Ing. Josef Willi, he established the internationally renowned Research Department for Agricultural Ecology at the Institute. Since 1976, he has also been a contract teacher for social science at the Academy of Social Work.
Political life
In 1989, van Staa was elected member of the town council of Innsbruck. In December 1993, together with other like-minded members of this council, he founded the political association For Innsbruck. On 24 April 1994, the next elections of the municipal council of Innsbruck took place. Van Staa and his For Innsbruck movement came out as surprising winners and, as a result, he was elected mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Innsbruck by the town council with a majority of 35 out of 40 votes.
In spring 1995, van Staa was elected vice president of the Austrian Towns Association. Since July 1995, he has been president of the Austrian Town Platform for the Austrian People's Party
Austrian People's Party
The Austrian People's Party is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Austria. A successor to the Christian Social Party of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it is similar to the Christian Democratic Union of Germany in terms of ideology...
and president of the European Local and Regional Government Association of the European People's Party
European People's Party
The European People's Party is a pro-European centre-right European political party. The EPP was founded in 1976 by Christian democratic parties, but later it increased its membership to include conservative parties and parties of other centre-right perspectives.The EPP is the most influential of...
.
In July 1996, van Staa was elected vice president of the Chamber of Local Authorities of the Congress of the Council of Europe. In 1998, he became president of the Chamber of Local Authorities of the Congress, and in May, 2002, President of the Congress. Since May 2004 onwards, he has served as past president of the Congress.
In October 2002, he was elected governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the Tyrol
Tyrol (state)
Tyrol is a state or Bundesland, located in the west of Austria. It comprises the Austrian part of the historical region of Tyrol.The state is split into two parts–called North Tyrol and East Tyrol–by a -wide strip of land where the state of Salzburg borders directly on the Italian province of...
Region; in October 2003 he was re-elected governor. Since February 2004, he has been vice president of the Committee of the Regions
Committee of the Regions
The Committee of the Regions is European Union's assembly of local and regional representatives that provides sub-national authorities with a direct voice within the EU's institutional framework....
and leader of the Austrian delegation.
In the 2008 state election
Tyrolean state election, 2008
State elections was held in the Austrian state of Tyrol on 8 June 2008, brought forward from the original date of 5 October 2008 to "avoid collisions with a possible early parliamentary election"...
, he was ousted as Governor of Tyrol by Günther Platter
Günther Platter
Günther Platter is an Austrian politician and is the current Governor of Tyrol after his predecessor Herwig van Staa lost more almost 10% of the votes in the regional elections. Before becoming Governor, Platter served as Interior Minister and as Minister of Defence in the cabinets of Gusenbauer...
, but went on to be elected President of the regional parliament (Landtag).