From left to right: Jean-Claude Bader, Audrey Kessouri and Bob Tahri. – Photo editing
- Regional elections are scheduled for June 20 and 27 across France. In the Grand-Est, nine lists were drawn up with nearly 200 candidates each time.
- Among them, some have atypical profiles. An ex-Miss Ronde Universe, a climber-arborist, a former international athlete or even a vocal double of Johnny Hallyday.
- 20 minutes went to meet these four candidates from four different lists.
Nine lists with nearly 200 names each time… On June 20 and 27, the regional elections in the Grand-Est will bring together nearly 2,000 candidates. Among them, some have atypical paths. 20 minutes selected four.
Audrey Kessouri, the former Miss Ronde Universe who “loves challenges”
Camera flashes, match kicks, an appearance on TF1… The life of Audrey Kessouri, 39, took an unexpected turn a few years ago. When the young woman, today 15th on the list of Aurélie Filippetti’s Inédit Call in Alsace, had embarked on the Miss Ronde adventure. “I had stumbled upon a competition by chance and it made me want to give myself a challenge, which I adore”, recalls the native of Strasbourg, who quickly got caught up in the game. To the point of becoming Miss Ronde France Alsace committee in 2016 then… Miss Ronde Univers in 2018! “The election, by Internet, had lasted six months and it was great because I was regularly challenged. I had to record music, do parades, photoshoots, etc. It allowed me to work on my self-confidence and to meet people, it was a unique experience, ”enthuses the director of the school and extracurricular service of Molsheim, in the Bas-Rhin.
Her arrival in politics dates back to 2016, for a term of municipal councilor in Souffelweyersheim. “I find it important to get involved and participate in local life. “
Frédéric Mathias, the climber-arborist who became mayor by chance
Without this famous medical appointment in 1989, he might still be a librarian. Except that Frédéric Mathias read the magazines lying around that day in the waiting room. “And inside, we were talking about a climber-pruner training. At the time, the profession was undergoing a revival, ”recounts the sixty-year-old, who will be 3rd on Eliane Romani’s environmentalist list in the Ardennes. A vocation was born. She then took him to unimaginable heights.
“The tallest tree in the world, in North America, must be 110 meters. I had to climb up to about 80 meters in Africa. “On the occasion of scientific missions, sometimes to look for seeds, flowers, study …” It made me travel a lot, in South America too, in Vanuatu but now, I rarely go out of the Great East ” , takes over the native Perpignan, who arrived in the Ardennes in 1978. Where he has since stabilized, to the point of becoming the mayor of his small village of Boult-aux-Bois, in 2008. Again by chance. “There was no candidate, so …” Frédéric Mathias is now in his third term and hopes to pass on his convictions, forged through his experiences. “The whole planet is connected. What happens in Vanuatu can have implications here. If I can have a little action… ”
Bob Tahri has changed races
For a long time, the athlete has monopolized the podiums. With a world medal and three Europeans, Bouabdellah (“Bob”) Tahri is well established. He was one of the greatest French middle distance specialists until his retirement in 2017. Since then, the Messin has taken other starts. First as a physical trainer for the AS Monaco football club in 2018 and 2019, then as a consultant on the channel The team. “I have a sports consulting company,” explains the entrepreneur, who became a municipal councilor in the Moselle capital last summer with the election of François Grosdidier. “He gave me responsibilities in line with what I wanted, city policy and youth,” he explains, delighted to be able to “help the new generations to project themselves and try to inspire them with my route “
This new race, the former champion does not see the finish line. “I take all of this with a lot of humility and I know it can be fleeting. But I try to be as altruistic as possible where I was very selfish in my career as a top athlete. Bob Tahri is listed in 15th place on Jean Rottner’s list (Les Républicains) in Moselle.
Jean-Claude Bader, don’t call him the “Alsatian Johnny”
In Alsace, his face is known. His voice especially. For nearly twenty-five years, Jean-Claude Bader has interpreted Johnny Hallyday in his own way. “Many compare me to a vocal double, but I don’t try to imitate him. Me, I like the sharing of emotions ”, slices the person concerned, who does not like being reduced to this activity for the elections. “It annoys me when my opponents talk about Alsatian Johnny but I’m not crazy, they do it on purpose. Me, I like to say that I do not mix the 3P, for the political, the private and the professional. “
During his concerts, “one date a week before the Covid-19”, the former restaurateur thus ensures never to speak of politics. An activity that has occupied her for twenty years. “I was contacted by Robert Grossmann in 2001 before the municipal elections in Strasbourg and that’s how I found myself assistant to Fabienne Keller. “Since then, the 69-year-old man was elected regional councilor with Florian Philippot in 2015 and will this year be 5th on the list of the National Gathering led by Laurent Jacobelli. “I like interacting with people and the idea of being able to do things for them. “