Gomadingen’s long-serving mayor steps aside as election race begins

A quiet German town faces a turning point. With the mayor’s exit, a veteran administrator steps forward—will voters embrace change or cling to tradition?

, and Administrator

2025 November 13 . 7:22 AM

1 min read

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Gomadingen’s long-serving mayor steps aside as election race begins

Gomadingen, a small municipality in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, with nearly 2,300 residents, is preparing for a mayoral election. Current mayor Klemens Betz, who has served four terms, has announced he will not seek re-election. Silke Hirsch, the town's financial director for 24 years, has thrown her hat into the ring, marking the start of the common app period.

Hirsch, who has been a familiar face in Gomadingen's administration for over two decades, will formally submit her application on or after February 21. The common app period ends on March 30, giving potential candidates ample time to put their names forward. The mayoral election is scheduled for April 26, with a potential runoff on May 10 if no candidate secures an absolute majority. Voting will take place across three polling districts and a postal voting station at the town hall.

Betz, who has been instrumental in the town's affairs, will step down on June 30, 2026. He has also been elected chair of the municipal electoral committee for the upcoming election, with Michael Simmendinger serving as his deputy.

With Betz's departure, Gomadingen looks to the future under new leadership. Hirsch's candidacy signals a potential shift in the town's administration, as residents prepare to cast their votes in the upcoming election.