Tobias Farnung: The new hope for Poppenhausen!

Tobias Farnung: The new hope for Poppenhausen!

Something is happening in the small but lively community of Poppenhausen: Tobias Farnung has announced his candidacy for mayor. The 44-year-old, who was born in Frankfurt and now lives in the municipality's core town, was unanimously nominated as a candidate by the CDU Poppenhausen. This decision was made during a general meeting in the “Zum Stern” inn on January 14, 2025, at which 30 members were present and Farnung received full approval. The incumbent mayor Manfred Helfrich, who has been in office for 24 years, is not running for a fifth term.

Fernung's roots go back to the region; his father comes from Gackenhof and the family often visited Poppenhausen. After studying business administration at Fulda University, he has been involved in local politics through his work as a journalist since 2003. What is particularly noteworthy is that he was previously a member of the CDU in order to maintain his neutrality as a journalist, and only retrieved his party register in December 2024 to run for the CDU.

Future plan for Poppenhausen

Farnung enters the election campaign with clear ideas and a practice-oriented approach. He is committed to creating optimal conditions for all phases of life in Poppenhausen. “We have to involve citizens and choose a pragmatic and sensible course,” he emphasizes. The topics of accessibility and optimizing childcare are particularly important to him. He also plans to establish an incubator for young craftsmen in an empty furniture factory next to the town hall.

Another concern of Farnung is the promotion of volunteer work, especially in relation to the holiday games. “It is important to bring the village community together again,” he explains, referring to the current conflict over the kindergarten issue. His favorite place in Poppenhausen, the “Stein” with a view of the town, symbolizes the connection he feels to his homeland.

Elections in Germany

The election in Poppenhausen will take place on June 29, 2025 and is part of the municipal elections in Germany, in which citizens eligible to vote elect their municipal representatives. In Germany, such elections are regulated by the Basic Law, which provides for democratic participation for all Union citizens residing in Germany. Mayors are usually elected for five to eight years, although the exact structure varies in different federal states. Voters often focus on the candidates rather than the parties, which makes the political landscape more colorful.

Farnung plans to watch the results live in town hall on election night and has already launched his own beer, the “Poppenhausener Pilsener,” to strengthen the community. The upcoming elections and Farnung's commitment could provide the impetus for a new chapter in Poppenhausen's history.

Citizens are now called upon to form an opinion and use the coming election to cast their vote for the future of their community.

For further information about the nomination and the background to Farnung's candidacy, you can read the reports on Fulda newspaper and East Hesse News read up. For more details on local elections in Germany, visit bpb.de.