AfD candidate for Gunzenhausen: Fight against vacancies and for new jobs!

AfD candidate for Gunzenhausen: Fight against vacancies and for new jobs!

The AfD Ansbach-Weißenburg has lined up for the local elections in 2026 and is primarily relying on a breath of fresh air in Gunzenhausen. 36-year-old Sebastian Bäumler, the party's mayoral candidate, wants to revitalize the city with a clear focus on vacancy management and economic development. As an entrepreneur in the field of electrical installation, he not only brings business understanding, but also a great deal of commitment from his voluntary work with the fire department, the IHK and the VHS.

Bäumler has formulated ambitious goals: He not only wants to revitalize the city center, but also create pop-up spaces and find joint solutions with owners to optimize the use of funding programs. “We have to get involved and drive development forward together with the citizens,” was his clear statement. The AfD is also fighting against vacancies in residential spaces, which is an acute problem in many regions, especially in rural areas.

Vacancy as a central issue

According to kommunal.de, around 530,000 apartments in Eastern Germany are uninhabited, which corresponds to 7.6 percent of the total number of apartments available. In West Germany, too, around 4 percent of the 1.35 million apartments are empty. Despite the challenges posed by the influx of refugees in 2015/16, which moved many people, vacancies remained a persistent problem. The federal government's action strategy includes, among other things, funding programs for the renovation and construction of new residential buildings, which could also be important for Gunzenhausen.

Bäumler could use the measures presented by Federal Construction Minister Klara Geywitz to specifically reduce vacancies in Gunzenhausen. A notable program is “Young Buys Old,” which supports families in purchasing and energy-efficient renovation of residential buildings. There could be new opportunities for livability here, which should also be addressed in Gunzenhausen.

The way into the future

But it's not just Bäumler who is active on the political stage. Thomas Koller, 30, is also running for mayor of Weissenburg and speaks out in favor of affordable housing and against rising rent prices. These are topics that concern many citizens, especially at the moment.

“We all notice that living space is increasingly becoming a luxury good,” says Koller. So anyone who hopes that the housing problem can be alleviated through new building areas for families and accelerated building application reviews should follow the local election campaign closely. Koller plans to introduce technical innovations such as digital processes into the building applications in order to give the new building a boost.

In an increasingly challenging real estate market, cooperation between all parties involved is crucial. “A good knack for cooperation and the use of funding will be crucial in the future to make our cities worth living in,” emphasizes Bäumler. The Weissenburg-Gunzenhausen district can look forward to exciting times as these new candidates seek to pave the way for a more vibrant city and region.

The actors are taking on fresh challenges; 60-year-old Siegfried Lang is running as district administrator candidate in order to stand up for the citizens in the area and focus on citizen-centered management. Lang's experience and commitment promise that a rethink could also take place in district politics.

In summary, it can be seen that the upcoming elections this year offer many interesting approaches. It remains exciting to see whether the new faces of politics can bring the empty properties in Gunzenhausen and the surrounding area back to life. Citizens are called upon to actively use their voice and help shape it. Because in times of change it is important to get involved and represent your own ideas.