- The incumbent mayor of Kiel will forgo seeking re-election for a third time.
Ulf Kämpfer, the Mayor of Kiel, won't be running for a third term. "I've been serving as Kiel's Mayor for ten years, and it'll be twelve years by the time I step down," stated the SPD politician. "Twelve years is quite a long stretch." Ulf Kämpfer's term is set to conclude in April 2026. The next mayoral election is scheduled to take place between August 2025 and March 2026.
"Extremely thankful"
He never intended to pursue this position and started in local politics as a "clean slate." "The people of Kiel showed an immense amount of faith in me during my initial election as Mayor in 2014," recollected Kämpfer.
"I'm extremely thankful for the chances I've had to make a significant impact during some truly thrilling years, especially the ones that are still ahead of me," expressed the Mayor of Kiel. "However, I also believe it's best for both me and democracy that there's a change after twelve years," added Kämpfer.
Kämpfer is keeping options open
He's yet to decide on his post-mayoral plans: "I haven't got a clue what's next for me in this role," said Kämpfer. But with his extensive experience, he'll undoubtedly find something worthwhile to do.
Whether he'd seek other positions or venture into state politics was also unclear. "I made this decision solely considering this post and not considering any future possibilities," explained Kämpfer.
Kämpfer offers clarity
In the opinion of the CDU city council faction chair, Rainer Kreutz, Mayor Kämpfer has set "clear guidelines" with his announcement, announced around two years before the end of his term. "That's fair and offers clarity for the selection process of the parties represented in the Kiel city council," said Kreutz.
Kreutz underscored that the CDU city council faction had worked collaboratively with Kämpfer throughout his tenure. However, it's premature to bid him farewell with gratitude, as he still needs to pass the budgets for 2025 and 2026.
The upcoming mayoral election in Kiel will be held between August 2025 and March 2026, replacing Ulf Kämpfer who is stepping down after serving for twelve years. After serving as Mayor, Ulf Kämpfer is thankful for the opportunities he's had to make a significant impact and believes it's time for a change, considering the length of his term.
