R

udy had never aspired to be Mayor — He already deemed it a blessing to be part of Surakarta’s top leadership.

On Oct. 19, Rudy, whose complete name is Fransiskus Xaverius Hadi Rudyatmo, was installed as Mayor of Surakarta (Solo), Central Java, replacing Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who recently became governor of Jakarta.

While he was deputy mayor, Rudy was in fact not as popular as Jokowi although he was similar to the former mayor in style and character; humble and populist. Yet his share in managing the city cannot be underestimated, at least in the last seven years.

Rudy was an intermediary capable of negotiating a compromise with sidewalk vendors, who were eventually prepared to be relocated — a success story that later earned Jokowi a reputation as walikota kakilima (mayor for vendors).

It was also Rudy who finally managed to persuade riverbank dwellers to move to safer and flood-free areas, besides mediating between groups of residents in conflict.

“Leaders should conduct field inspections and meet people instead of only receiving reports. Moreover, leaders have to rely on a human approach rather than arbitrary rule,” said the man with a thick mustache.

Born in Surakarta on Feb. 13, 1960, Rudy was brought up in a poor family. His father, M. Atmowiryono, a locomotive engineer, died when he was 6. His family home in Kastelan, Banjarsari, was later leveled for road construction without compensation. Along with his mother, Suprapti, and his 12 siblings, Rudy moved to Pucangsawit, Jebres, where they were again evicted, forcing them to live not far from the bank of Solo River.

“As a vegetable vendor, mother had to support her 13 children who hadn’t come of age yet. Eating twice daily was already a luxury, let alone school fees,” recalled Rudy. Eager to further his studies, as a primary school student Rudy helped his mother sell vegetables in the local market.

Finishing primary school, Rudy became a street singer and later a bus conductor to earn more for his technical school (STM) fees. Graduating from STM, he worked with an automotive manufacturer in Jakarta, returning to Surakarta to join a pharmaceutical firm, PT Konimex, as a manual worker.

“I did all kinds of jobs such as scrubbing floors, delivering chemical materials and handling factory machines to be repaired, as long as I could get money — particularly for the school fees of my younger siblings, while the older ones supported their own dependents,” he said in his modest house in Pucangsawit.

Hard work and a willingness to learn led him to important positions. After being named a model employee in 1990, his organizational talent made him rise to chairman of the workers’ union. However, this activity prompted him to resign just as he reached the post of technical supervisor with PT Konimex, and to lead the Surakarta branch of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). He has been a member of Megawati Soekarnoputri’s party since 1977.

“I was trying not to harm other people’s interests. I simply couldn’t mix up party affairs and business matters, so I had to make up my mind whatever the risk might be because one has to maintain an attitude in life,” said the husband of Elizabeth Endang Prasetyaningsih.

In his youth, Rudy was already active in various social organizations such the subdistrict youth association, the search and rescue group and the Indonesian Red Cross. He even served as chairman of the local neighborhood unit (RT) for ten years until he assumed the office of deputy mayor in 2005.

This man’s appearance belies his true personality. His mustache, sturdy physique and slightly dark skin make him look grim and stern. Actually, he is gentle and courteous. Rudy, for instance, frequently greets people with familiar terms of address and always speaks kromo (refined or honorific) Javanese when talking to others, even his subordinate personnel.

“I think all Indonesians do the same. There’s nothing special as it’s a matter of etiquette of the nation. It’s certainly different with very close friends,” said the father of five. His appreciation for others is inseparable from his bitter experience as a child, when he was subjected to ridicule by children of rich people. Such scorn made Rudy learn how he should respect others.

The eviction of his family decades ago influenced Rudy choice to avoid evicting people arbitrarily whilst in office with Jokowi. “Pak Jokowi happens to have experienced the same. I don’t want residents to undergo the bitterness I once had. It hurt, with no compensation at all,” indicated the man who likes gardening, especially growing decorative plants.

His other hobby is collecting world and local soccer teams’ costumes. “I can buy the uniforms of Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) clubs when Persis (Solo soccer club) is competing. For foreign costumes I usually get them through friends or journalists on overseas duty,” said the former Persis general chairman.

The former member of the PSSI Normalization Committee also frequently spends his spare time playing football with reporters, market traders, becak (pedicab) drivers and factory workers.

“Football is a people’s sport. It’s cheap and healthy. If leaders approach their people, they won’t be scared. They can speak about everything, even their complaints,” the fan of the legendary band Koes Plus added.

Some circles doubt the leadership of Rudy, fearing that Surakarta may undergo a setback without Jokowi. “I don’t need to brag about what I’ve done and my upcoming plans. For me, becoming a leader means serving the people,” the man who also likes drinking tea at sidewalk stalls responded calmly.

Rudy’s egalitarian attitude and closeness to local people in fact constitutes his strong asset as a leader. He almost never stays in his official residence and chooses to return to his private home near the riverbank. “The official house is for official purposes. After handling public affairs, I go home, where I can see local residents, chat at patrol posts and have a drink at sidewalk stalls,” he said.

Rudy also makes sure he is easily available. Even his home is always open to residents wishing to convey their grievances. “I was once annoyed when I found it hard to meet with sub-district officials to handle my citizen’s identity card. Now as mayor I don’t want to make people irritated due to bureaucratic bottlenecks,” Rudy concluded.