The new mayor has been determined - but why are the Eichenauer so lazy to choose?

Created: 07/12/2022, 12:00 p.m

The tension is gone: Markus Hausberger (left) and Peter Münster enjoyed a glass of sparkling wine in the town hall after the result was announced.

© Weber

Eichenau chose.

Peter Münster (FDP) was confirmed in office.

He was able to leave his opponent Markus Hausberger far behind.

But it has been striking for a number of years: the turnout is not outstanding.

That makes all parties think.

Eichenau

– Alfred Rehm in 1968, Sebastian Niedermeier in 1980 and Peter Münster in 2016 have one thing in common: they came into office in a run-off.

However, it was always necessary to elect a new community leader after someone no longer held the office.

Peter Münster (FDP) is now the first incumbent mayor in the 65-year history of Eichenau's independence who had to take the detour of the runoff election for re-election.

Seen in this way, Markus Hausberger from the Greens has achieved something unique.

However, there is also a phenomenon that is repeated: For the second time in a row, participation in the runoff remained well below 50 percent (47.84 percent).

However, this was not much stronger in the first ballot either.

Voter turnout has hovered around 50 percent since 2010.

For comparison: When Hubert Jung (CSU) was elected or confirmed in 1998 and 2004, the turnout was well over 60 percent.

elections in one day

Neither the FDP mayor of Münster nor the Greens in Hausberger have an explanation for the waning interest.

Of course, both would have liked more Eichenauer to vote.

That explains their happy reaction on election night when the bar for participation slipped just above 50 percent.

The Puchheim FDP city councilor Martin Koch once suggested summarizing all elections from federal to local authority in one day.

After all, after a death in the past that interrupted the cycle, the people of Eichenauer have to vote twice: first the municipal council and two years later the mayor.

But Münster rejects Koch's proposal: "It will stress the administrations and we will find even fewer election workers."

Election campaign too lax?

Could the nature of the election campaign be a reason?

Although outwardly hardly perceived as spectacular, at least in Münster and Hausberger the time between the two elections was intense.

In the tried and tested manner, Münster concentrated on contact with citizens at stands and front doors.

Hausberger distributed sunflowers in the town center in the two weeks between the election and the runoff.

"It would have been possible to campaign more," he admits.

But you also need breaks to avoid overdoing it.

He considers his workload reasonable.

"It was a good compromise between what is politically necessary and what work and family require."

Munster's master plan

In any case, Hausberger had no chance in the runoff.

That became clear very quickly on Sunday evening: Münster received 63.81 percent and Hausberger 36.19 percent of the votes.

also read

Red liquid is dripping from the trailer - a bad suspicion calls emergency services into action

Hardy's City Run: Participation record - organizers have to order extra starting numbers

One argument in Münster's election campaign was always that he could continue projects that had been started.

And the incumbent wants to deliver.

He now wants to get down on his knees in the northern commercial area – primarily to give the community financial breathing space.

The "House 37" project is also to be pushed: "We should be finished by 2026." Short-term at the top of his to-do list is: a crèche by September.

Münster does not consider the federal trend of the FDP to be decisive at the municipal level.

During the election campaign, however, he noticed that it was different for Green voters.

That is required

Finance officer Hans Hösch (CSU) sees Münster as having an obligation to carry out the various projects, which include the school renovations and a new triple hall.

But he says: "It will all depend on the finances." Bernd Heilmeier, spokesman for the Free Voters, put it a little more neutrally: "What has been started must now really begin." Gertrud Merkert (SPD) agrees.

But for them, the open all-day school has priority.

Plus: "The chairing of the meeting may be tighter in the second term of office."

Green optimism

The Greens see the result as a success, mainly because Hausberger had just forced the incumbent into the runoff.

You see a clear uptrend.

They are now on an equal footing with the CSU, which had the majority before 2008.

However, Hausberger does not want to make any forecasts for the next local elections in 2026.

"That's still so far away."