Martin Leipert: A breath of fresh air for Gräfenberg's mayoral election in 2026!

Martin Leipert: A breath of fresh air for Gräfenberg's mayoral election in 2026!

A lot is happening in Gräfenberg: The SPD has presented its candidates for the 2026 local elections. Martin Leipert tops the list and focuses on strengthening the town centers instead of driving growth on the outskirts. “We need meeting places and have to promote existing structures,” says Leipert, who is running as a candidate for mayor. With an average age of 49 on the city council list, the SPD brings a colorful mix of experience and a breath of fresh air, as the youngest candidate is only 18 years old. A total of 16 candidates are running for the SPD, including Johannes Gumbmann in second place, who emphasizes the importance of a reliable municipal infrastructure. Axel Degler, third on the list, wants to make modern digital offerings accessible to all age groups. The incumbent city councilor Elisabeth Meinhardt also wants to remain the contact person for citizens and particularly advocate for the interests of children and seniors.

The details show that the issues are close to the citizens' hearts. During a tour on September 9, 2023, Leipert led a discussion about empty buildings on the market square and the connection to the Gräfenbergbahn. While Richard Schmidt, SPD state parliament candidate, sees vacancies as an opportunity for smaller rental apartments, citizens express concerns about the lack of bus connections to surrounding cities. This also applies to the outdoor swimming pool in Gräfenberg, whose infrastructure, according to Ioana Bucur, urgently needs to be renovated in order to maintain it as a social meeting place.

Diversity of topics and concerns

Another central point of the discussion was the historic Scheunenviertel. Leipert sees great potential for cultural projects here, but there is a lack of an appropriate reuse concept, which hinders the application for funding. Clear language and more communication are also required when it comes to the environment, for example regarding the pollution at the quarry in the area.

Leipert not only stands for progress through technical change and income from the energy transition, but also strives for a more transparent political style. “The city council should become a place for the development of ideas,” he continues. A look at the entire list of candidates shows that there are many committed personalities up for election, including Martin Meis, who wants to work for village renewal, and Tanja Prütting, who promotes open dialogue in politics.

In summary, Gräfenberg has many ideas and committed people who are committed to the positive development of their community. Ultimately, it is important to listen to citizens' concerns and implement them so that Gräfenberg remains a lively place in the future.

nn.de and spd-bamberg.de document the progress of the SPD and the exciting topics that actively concern the people of Gräfenberg. Ultimately, it is the people who can make a difference through commitment and foresight. And that is also the case in Gräfenberg.