Citizens Hold a Duty in Sight for the New Mayor of Sylt - Citizens under new mayorship on Sylt take up their civic responsibilities
In a historic move, Tina Haltermann has taken office as the new mayor of the municipality of Sylt. The election, necessitated by months of dispute, marks a new chapter for the island community.
Born in Eutin, Ostholstein, and raised in Ascheberg on the Great Plön Lake, Haltermann studied in Kiel before making her home on Sylt around 20 years ago. As an independent, Haltermann brings a fresh perspective to the role.
Haltermann's term began with great ambitions and challenges. She has outlined several key initiatives and goals, focusing on tourism, economic development, and affordable long-term housing for residents.
Tourism
Sustainable tourism development is at the heart of Haltermann's vision. She aims to balance the influx of visitors with environmental preservation, enhancing the quality of tourism services to attract a diverse range of visitors beyond the peak season, and promoting Sylt as a year-round destination to stabilize economic activities and employment.
Economic Development
Haltermann plans to support local businesses and foster innovation, diversifying the island’s economy beyond tourism. She also encourages investment in green technology and sustainable industries to create new job opportunities. Infrastructure improvements will be facilitated to support business growth and improve resident quality of life.
Affordable Long-Term Housing
Addressing the high cost of living and housing scarcity on the island, Haltermann plans to increase the availability of affordable housing options for residents. She will implement regulations to limit the conversion of permanent homes into holiday rentals, preserving housing stock for locals. Collaborating with developers and community stakeholders, she aims to build more long-term residential units accessible to the local workforce.
In her role, Haltermann serves as a point of contact for citizens, associations, political bodies, and organizations in the fields of economy, tourism, nature conservation, and social affairs on Sylt.
Haltermann's first 100 days in office felt like the first stage of a very intense marathon. She is conscious of the need to avoid burning out, as her predecessor Nikolas Häckel did prematurely in September 2024 and died shortly after in Hamburg under unexplained circumstances.
Haltermann won the runoff election on April 6, 2025, against her opponent Markus Gieppner, backed by the CDU, and was elected for a six-year term. The office model, scheduled to be introduced on January 1, 2027, will be known as "Amtsinsel Sylt" (Office of the Island of Sylt).
For a functioning democracy, Haltermann sees dialogue between administration, politics, and citizens as essential. She encourages Sylt's citizens to inform themselves and participate in this dialogue. Haltermann is currently in a collaborative relationship with the mayors of the municipalities of Kampen, List, Wenningstedt-Braderup, and Hörnum.
Together, they strive to create a balanced approach that maintains the island's unique character and environment while supporting sustainable growth and improving living conditions for residents.
The Commission communication on the future of the European Union was discussed in light of Haltermann's ambitious goals for the "Amtsinsel Sylt," during which she emphasized sustainable tourism development, economic diversification, and affordable long-term housing for residents.
Tourists, businesses, and citizens on Sylt await Haltermann's political initiatives, as the new arms of corruption investigations, economic reform, and general-news media analyze the evolving affairs of the island and her connections to the broader European Union landscape.
