Marco Voge: The district administrator is retiring from office after 5 years!

Marco Voge: The district administrator is retiring from office after 5 years!

Marco Voge's term of office as district administrator of the Märkischer Kreis ends on Friday, October 31, 2025. After five years in office, Voge draws a mixed assessment of his time, which was marked by significant challenges but also valuable experiences. Loud Local voice he describes his term of office as an honor and not a burden. Despite his positive assessment, the end of his political career was difficult because he was denied the support of his district council group.

“It wasn’t always easy, but I always did my best,” explains Voge. His biggest challenges included, among other things, the corona pandemic, the flood in the Lennetal and a hacker attack on the district administration. These events have placed great demands not only on the administration but also on the entire region. The closure of the Rahmedetal Bridge also represented an enormous hurdle that had to be overcome.

An unexpected retreat

However, the return to roots will be painful for Voge as he had to withdraw his candidacy for another term. How MK Journal reported, this happened less than 24 hours after a unanimous vote by the CDU district council group against renewed cooperation. Voge emphasizes that the decision was not easy for him and that the public debate about his candidacy weighed on him. He also recognizes the need for political majorities and thanks his colleagues and volunteers for their years together. He emphasizes that, despite all adversities, the past four years have also been marked by successes, such as the organization of vaccination centers during the pandemic.

Voge calls on the CDU to find a new, viable candidate for the local elections. “It will be difficult without support,” he clarifies. The path is now clear for Ralf Schwarzkopf, the Lüdenscheid state parliament member, which thwarts a feared candidacy in the CDU district executive committee.

A look into the future

“I’m leaving office with a good feeling,” says Voge, looking at the work he has done in dealing with the crisis. In addition to dealing with the pandemic and the floods in 2021, he also mentioned current challenges, such as the war in Ukraine and the gas shortage in 2022. He also pushed forward the development of broadband expansion and the strengthening of the first responder system. The hacker attack on the South Westphalia IT in 2023 also represents a striking point in his term of office.

With his departure, a chapter for politics in the Märkisches Kreis ends. Marco Voge, who often polarized through his style and decisions, leaves behind a mixed legacy that will probably continue to resonate in the years to come. When asked what his plans for the future are, he remains vague, but one thing is clear: looking back on his term in office will be marked by a sense of responsibility and the urge to move on.