The city of Sonthofen is preparing for a new election following the resignation announcement by its First Mayor Martina Neusinger . On 11 November 2026, the local authority said it was preparing the necessary steps relating to her request to be released from office and to the election. The Second Mayor Florian Schwarz and the Third Mayor Thomas Jortzig are running the administration on an interim basis. No election date was announced initially.
Neusinger, of the Free Voters party, announced her resignation with immediate effect on 6 November, after around six months at the helm of the town hall, and asked to be released from office. The request must be decided on, according to Bayerischer Rundfunk of the City Council . The political announcement and the outstanding decision on her release from office are therefore two separate matters.
The local authority is to continue operating during the transition. Schwarz said that administrative services and political work at meetings were guaranteed. According to the town, council and committee meetings are also to go ahead as planned. Jortzig said there could, however, be staffing pressures for ceremonial engagements. If necessary, council representatives would step in.
The public meeting on 16 November 2026 is also due to take place as planned. According to the town, Schwarz will present current projects and developments in the local authority there. The town said it would provide information on the next steps and the date of the mayoral election.
Neusinger cited Sonthofen’s financial situation as one reason for her decision. In her view, the problems were greater than she had realised before taking office. She also said she had increasingly felt a lack of support, and that contributions to public debate had crossed a line in her view. She said she would also give up her other political offices, including her seat on the district council of Oberallgäu district.
The financial pressure is not just a matter of personal opinion. According to a report by Bayerischer Rundfunk, expected business tax revenues came in below forecasts, while costs and levies rose. At the same time, spending is needed on primary schools, fire stations and all-day childcare. The town says it cannot currently afford a comprehensive school-building project.
Oberallgäu district administrator Christian Wilhelm, who was previously mayor of Sonthofen himself, described the financial situation as difficult in comments to Kreisbote. The major investment needs were already known during his term of office. However, he pointed to a changed revenue situation and said that a fall in business tax receipts on this scale could not have been foreseen. From his current position, he could not judge whether this reflected a lasting trend or one-off effects.
For the town administration, the immediate task is to continue ongoing work without its elected mayor. Schwarz does not consider the situation hopeless, according to Bayerischer Rundfunk: projects could be reshaped, and priorities and compromises would be needed. Voters will decide on the town’s longer-term political leadership in the new election, which has yet to be scheduled.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).