The Swiss mountain resort of St. Moritz has elected Christian Jott Jenny as its community president*. Jenny is the founder and director of the International Festival da Jazz and moved to the most famous winter resort in the world just two years ago. After the election, locals and guests are looking forward to a new boost for the global reach of their top alpine destination.
The surprise was great when cultural producer and entertainer Christian Jott Jenny signed up just eight weeks before the elections for the office of municipal president of St. Moritz advertised. As director of Jazz Festival He is no stranger to the village. For more than ten years, he has been bringing world-renowned musicians to his intimate and unique “Festival da Jazz” in St. Moritz.
Al Jarreau, Norah Jones or Herbie Hancock played for Jenny in front of 150 people in the legendary “Dracula Club”, Earth, Wind & Fire gasped for breath at open-air concerts in the thin mountain air and star violinist Nigel Kennedy played for him at the hotel pool. Jenny has been used to big names since childhood: The trained opera tenor had once sung as a boys' soloist at the Salzburg Easter Festival under the direction of Herbert von Karajan alongside Luciano Pavarotti.
Networker and tough negotiator
Until now, Jenny had only been associated with politics if he campaigned for more support for cultural events from public authorities or met with the leaders of cantonal and national politics and business at his festival. “St. Moritz has huge potential as a brand and as a location that has not always been exploited in recent years,” said the candidate about his application. “I'm not a politician, I'm an artist and entrepreneur. And I want to give something back to this unique place that means so much to me.”
Jenny kissed St. Moritz awake: In record time, an unusually engaged and emotionally led election campaign broke out, which became a topic in national and even international media. The young electorate was immediately enthusiastic about the unconventional candidate and over time, support in tourism and the general economy also grew, which particularly appreciates Jenny's qualities as a networker and tough negotiator.
The artist, who is supported by a network of volunteers, managed to surprise him in the first round of voting and relegated the incumbent to second place. He was just five votes short of the election.
However, the eloquent character head and his troupe did not let themselves be disturbed. Against opposition from the established parties, Christian Jott Jenny was clearly elected mayor of St. Moritz with 894 votes to 822. He will take office on January 1, 2019.
* Note to German-language media: In Switzerland, the political leader of a municipality is called the “president of the municipality.” In Germany and Austria, he is usually referred to as mayor.
Christian Gartmann supported Christian Jott Jenny with public affairs advice and tactical communication work.