Peter Fink wins mayoral election in Oberau with a clear majority!

Peter Fink wins mayoral election in Oberau with a clear majority!

On November 9, 2025, Oberau sent a clear signal with an early mayoral election. Peter Fink from the Free Voters can look forward to a clear victory with 63.9 percent of the vote. He is taking over the mayor's office from the CSU, which is losing the town hall after almost 30 years under Peter Imminger. The returning officer Robert Zankel announced the result at 6:58 p.m. in the primary school, where around 100 citizens gathered to announce the results despite bad weather.

Fink was visibly surprised by the clear result and has already accepted the election. His challenger, Florian Rückborn from the CSU, described the result as a “clear defeat” and expressed his disappointment. Nevertheless, he emphasized that he was leaving the election with his head held high and had no blame for himself. It is now time for Rückborn and the CSU to prepare for the upcoming local elections in March.

The election campaign and the reactions

Before the election, a neck-and-neck race between Fink and Rückborn was expected. During the counting, however, it quickly became clear that Fink was clearly ahead. After the result was announced, Rückborn congratulated his competitor and both emphasized the fair election campaign. Fink explained that he wanted to be mayor for everyone in Oberau and that he wanted to take their concerns seriously. Rückborn, in turn, is striving for good cooperation with the new mayor.

Fink and his supporters celebrated the historic election victory in style. This election result could certainly be interpreted as a signal for the local characteristics in Oberau, which have certainly grown in recent years. Local elections, such as those held here, are often strongly influenced by local issues, and the electorate tends to support smaller parties and citizens' initiatives. According to the Federal Agency for Civic Education, local elections are an opportunity where citizens can directly influence their administration, leading to a concentration of power and greater transparency.

The look into the future

For the Free Voters, this election victory is not only a reason to celebrate, but also a mission. Typically, the term for mayors is between five and eight years, giving Fink significant time to effect change. The upcoming local elections will be an important test opportunity for Rückborn and the CSU to show whether they can learn from this election. It is also important to focus on the jointly developed projects for citizens.

A good mayor is characterized not only by electoral victories, but also by the ability to recognize the needs of the citizenry and act accordingly. This could also be a big challenge for Peter Fink in the future when it comes to uniting everyone in Oberau and pulling together.