Oberasbach's mayoral debate heats up with transport and budget clashes ahead of election
The Final Showdown Before the Vote
Anyone hoping to snag a seat in the auditorium of Altenberg Primary School on the evening of Friday, February 13, 2026, had to arrive on time. The third and final mayoral debate, organized by ADFC Oberasbach, drew such overwhelming interest that the school's capacity was pushed to its limits. While around 200 citizens packed inside to follow the candidates' remarks, roughly 40 latecomers were turned away at the door—the hall was simply full to bursting.
Onstage, the lineup included Marco Haas (CSU), Stephan Zeilinger of the citizens' initiative, Danny Hörig (FDP), Harald Patzelt (SPD), and Marie Schöttner (Die Linke). One chair, however, remained empty that night: candidate Thomas Diebenbusch had to cancel his appearance at short notice due to a family bereavement. Yet his positions were not entirely absent from the discussion, as Heike Barth (Greens) and Bastian Gill (Free Voters) took turns presenting his talking points. Diebenbusch enjoys the backing of both groups.
The debate began with the host's core issue: transport policy. Discussions centered on road safety, the introduction of 30 km/h zones, and the broader question of how public space should be divided among different road users. The proposed cycle highway and the city's goal of achieving climate neutrality also came under scrutiny. Another major focus was Oberasbach's precarious financial situation, with candidates addressing the municipality's ongoing fiscal crisis.
As the Q&A session drew to a close, the conversation shifted to the candidates' personal qualifications. The question arose: what specifically equipped each of them to lead an administration the size of Oberasbach's city government?
According to ADFC, the audience played an active role in the event, contributing to each thematic segment and sparking lively exchanges onstage. The organizers later declared the evening a success, calling it a well-executed final opportunity for voters to form their opinions ahead of the election.
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