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A new wind in Ostallgäu: Bernd Stapfner nominated as district administrator candidate!
Bernd Stapfner becomes the district administrator candidate for the Free Voters in Ostallgäu. Maria Rita Zinnecker will no longer be running in 2026.
A new wind in Ostallgäu: Bernd Stapfner nominated as district administrator candidate!
The political landscape in Ostallgäu is gradually beginning to change, and not without exciting growth. On July 21, 2025 it was announced that the Free Voters had nominated Bernd Stapfner from Wiedergeltingen as a candidate for the district election. Allgäu newspaper reports that this step is seen as a significant day for the party and the region.
The elections will take place in March 2026 and the successor to the outgoing district administrator Maria Rita Zinnecker (CSU) will be decided. Zinnecker announced that she would no longer run for office due to her husband's serious illness. She herself describes the decision as extremely difficult because she considers the office of district administrator to be the highlight of her career. Zinnecker has been leading the district for over eleven years and plans to end her term in office by April 30, 2026. She was the first district administrator in the Allgäu and was able to prevail in her election against Johann Fleschhut from the Free Voters. BR.de adds that the Ostallgäu CSU has shown its understanding and respect for Zinnecker's withdrawal.
New challenges and opportunities
Bernd Stapfner and the Free Voters see an opportunity in this situation. Susen Knabner, the district chairwoman, has expressed her desire to conquer the district office and will support Stapfner in his election campaign. With Zinnecker's resignation, the Free Voters now have the opportunity to become visible in the political arena of the Ostallgäu.
The CSU will be looking for its own candidate by the summer, with the official nomination planned for the fall. However, it is currently unclear who will succeed the experienced Zinnecker. Lars Leveringhaus, the CSU district chairman, also expressed his appreciation for Zinnecker's decision and emphasized how important her experiences will be for the party.
The election process in detail
The local elections in Ostallgäu will be carried out using the Sainte-Laguë/Schepers calculation method. The total number of votes for the constituency proposals are divided by 1, 3, 5, 7, etc., and the seats are allocated according to the highest division numbers. Stmi Bavaria explains that in the case of equal claims to a seat, the greater number of votes of the person in question decides; in the event of a tie, the draw will decide.
Looking ahead to the coming election, one thing is certain: there is an exciting time ahead for voters in Ostallgäu. Both the Free Voters and the CSU now have to act strategically in order to win voters' favor. The coming months could change everything - it remains to be seen how citizens will react to the new political actors.