Contest for Pforzheim's mayoral position is an unbalanced two-horse race
Pforzheim, known as the "Gateway to the Black Forest," is gearing up for its mayoral election, with incumbent Mayor Peter Boch running for re-election against challenger Dimitrij Walter.
Mayor Peter Boch, a former police officer and CDU member, has had a meteoric career, starting as a ballet dancer, patrol officer, and bodyguard of ministers, before becoming the mayor of Pforzheim. During his tenure, Boch has created 1000 new daycare places, reduced 50 million euros in debt, implemented a bathing strategy, and reduced the basic and trade tax. The election campaign office of Mayor Boch is decorated like a miniature city made of Lego.
Dimitrij Walter, who came to Pforzheim from Moscow in 1998 and learned electrical engineering, is running for mayor again, linking his topics to his biography. Walter wants to score points with innovative ideas such as a suspension bridge and a solar offensive with voters. He also emphasises the need for more commitment to education and clubs, especially in the city with the highest proportion of foreigners in Baden-Württemberg.
The AfD will not run a candidate in the mayoral election, but there is conflict within the district association, with three city councilors having resigned from the party. The SPD and the Greens did not put forward a candidate for the mayoral election.
The FDP, represented by Hans-Ulrich Rülke, a key political figure in Pforzheim, is in the race. Rülke, a former teacher and longtime Landtag member, is the lead candidate for the FDP in the upcoming 2026 Baden-Württemberg state election. He favours a coalition government excluding the Greens.
The city administration's plans for affordable housing, daycare places, the city center, and digitization of the administration are criticized by the opposition. The Emma-Jaeger-Bad remains a contentious issue for Dimitrij Walter, who wants to preserve the Jugendstil building. Moreover, two women from the family information service visited Mayor Peter Boch's office, expressing concerns about feeling unsafe in their workplace.
Mayor Peter Boch emphasises that Pforzheim is the safest large city in Baden-Württemberg, although many citizens feel differently. Pforzheim gained worldwide recognition through its jewelry and watchmaking industry, earning it the nickname "City of Gold." Today, Pforzheim's economy is only partially focused on these industries, and it serves as a regional center with one of the highest industrial densities in the country.
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