Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis chooses: Who will be the next district administrator?

Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis chooses: Who will be the next district administrator?

On February 23, 2025, voters in the Rhein-Palatinate district are faced with an important decision. A new district administrator is elected for the first time in several years, since the previous incumbent Clemens Körner (CDU) no longer starts re -election. The upcoming election takes place in the context of the Marathon election day, on which the Bundestag election is also carried out and ends with a possible runoff election on March 16, 2025. In this highly exciting race, five candidates around the district office applied.

The choice will be crucial for the future political orientation in the Rhein-Palatinate district. Surveys indicate an exciting head-to-head race among the candidates.

candidates at a glance

• Volker Knörr (CDU) : 48 years old, previous district member with a focus on schools, culture and sport. Knörr works for school construction, the preservation of the district baths, the construction of a bicycle speed and the expansion of tram lines. He has headed the waste management in the district for seven years and is rector of the Adolf Diesterweg Realschule Plus in Ludwigshafen Oggersheim.
• Bianca Staßen (SPD) : also 48 years old, teacher and volunteer district deputy for youth and social issues. Your goal is an effective and transparent administration, the modernization of the same and the promotion of education and social projects. She comes from Otterstadt and brings experience from disaster help.
• Maurice Kuhn (Greens) : The youngest candidate at the age of 27. He is a political scientist and a committed parliamentary group leader in the district council. Kuhn wants to strengthen the immigration authority, develop a circular development concept and is committed to expansion and digitization of the administration.
• Ralf Marohn (FDP) : 57 years old, entrepreneur and volunteer mayor of Neuhofen. Marohn has goals such as the cultural expansion, the digitization of the administration and the construction of a new district house. He also plans opportunities for business development and an expansion of tourism.
• Joachim Paul (AfD) : 54 years old, the only candidate who does not come from the Rhein-Palatinate district. Paul demands a change of course in migration policy and Wil promoting digitization and promoting start-ups.

The candidates already had the opportunity to present themselves and their programs at a panel discussion on February 4, 2025. These events are crucial for voters, since in these informal framework the candidates can present their goals and visions.

electoral context and relevance

The district election in the Rhein-Palatinate district has far-reaching effects on future administration and local politics. In addition to the new election of the district administrator, the citizens also decide on the occupation of further municipal offices. This is done as part of the general local elections in Rhineland-Palatinate, which take place every five years. In addition to this election, voters are also called on to decide on the composition of the local advisory board and the district councils as well as the honorary offices of local citizens.

The Rhein-Palatinate district faces an intensive and exciting election campaign in the coming weeks. The voters have the opportunity to actively participate in the design of their future and are called to give their vote on February 23