Newcomer Tina Haltermann Clinches Sylt Runoff Election as Mayor
Sylt has appointed Tina Haltermann as its new mayor.
In the hotly contested mayoral race on the North Sea Island of Sylt, Tina Haltermann, an independent backed by the CDU, has triumphantly emerged victorious in the runoff against Markus Gieppner, local software developer and native Sylt denizen.
"Overwhelmed with elation, heartfelt gratitude, and a profound sense of duty, I can scarcely comprehend the honor bestowed upon me," Haltermann expressed upon her victory. Haltermann gained 55.6% of the votes, securing her six-year term as the new full-time mayor of Sylt. Gieppner garnered approximately 44.4% of the votes.
Approximately 12,000 registered voters took part in the election, with a turnout of 38.8%. The formal outcome will be disclosed and ratified by the municipal election committee on the following Tuesday.
Haltermann, born in Eutin (Ostholstein) and raised in Ascheberg on the Great Plön Lake, studied social sciences in Kiel and has made Sylt her home for roughly 20 years. Apart from her political career, she is an active volunteer with the Sylt Hospice Association.
In the initial round of voting on March 6, Haltermann and Gieppner emerged as frontrunners among four candidates and two female competitors. Although neither candidate secured an absolute majority, necessitating a runoff, they excelled compared to their competitors. The former mayor of the municipalities encompassing Sylt, Nikolas Häckel, was prematurely relieved of his duties in September 2024 due to prolonged turmoil surrounding the mayor's seat at Sylt's town hall. Häckel, an independent, passed away shortly after his removal in Hamburg under mysterious circumstances.
Sylt Island belongs to the North Frisian Islands in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It does not have an independent mayor; instead, the mayoral position is part of a larger municipal election process.
Source: ntv.de, jpe/dpa
- North Sea
- Islands
- Elections
- Schleswig-Holstein
Tina Haltermann, the new mayor of Sylt Island, has expressed her gratitude for being chosen as the winner of the Sylt runoff election, held in Schleswig-Holstein, a North Sea island state in Germany. Although she did not receive an absolute majority in the initial round of voting, her strong performance in the runoff, netting 55.6% of the votes, secured her a six-year term in office. In light of the election results, it might be necessary to review and possibly revise the community policy and fisheries policy of Sylt, particularly considering Haltermann's dedication to supporting local associations like the Sylt Hospice Association. To this end, concerned politicians and citizens might consider engaging with Haltermann through WhatsApp or other communication channels to discuss and collaborate on policies.
