Klaus Kreß has been mayor of Bad Nauheim since 2017. On Sunday, he will stand for re-election. No opposing candidates have been found. Kress, who was born in September 1968, prevailed in the first round of voting six years ago and won 50.6 percent of the vote. Voter turnout was 41.6 percent. Before his first candidacy, he had already served his adopted home of Bad Nauheim for years as Head of Central Control in the administration. Prior to that, the graduate in public administration had worked for the city of Karben. Kress is married. In his free time, he likes to relax while reading.

Thorsten Winter

Correspondent of the Rhein-Main-Zeitung for Central Hesse and the Wetterau.

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Mr. Kress, how do you feel about the mayoral election on 7 May?

Well, as someone who loves his job and would like to continue doing it, I am of course already tense.

Why is that? You are the only candidate.

Agrees. On the one hand, I take this as a positive confirmation of the work done over the past six years. In the context of pandemic management, I think we have done a good job. On the other hand, however, I am concerned about voter turnout. It decreases even in elections with several candidates up and down the country. With only one candidate, it could be very low, which would be sad. But I'm looking forward to being able to do my job normally again from 8 May.

The level of voter turnout does not change the legitimacy of an incumbent. Nevertheless, what would be "very low" from your point of view?

Years ago, we had a very polarizing election campaign between Armin Häuser and Bernd Witzel, and 32 percent of those eligible took part in the run-off election. In my first election six years ago with three male and one female candidates, the rate was 42 percent. In view of this, 20 percent would be desirable for me, but perhaps I will also be pleasantly surprised.

Her counterpart Tammer received 82.2 percent of the vote in her re-election in Münzenberg, even without an opposing candidate, which she is very satisfied with. How many percent are you hoping for?

I'm hoping for 70 percent plus.

Which completed projects are you particularly proud of?

My first term in office was when the pandemic fell. It was already a great challenge for all municipalities and institutions. I find it outstanding how quickly and well we have succeeded in finding a line in Bad Nauheim, also in cooperation with the Gewerbeverein Erlebnis Bad Nauheim. I have the impression that people felt the same way.

What about the large-scale projects in the middle of the city?

The Sprudelhof Therme is still under construction, but 99 percent of the work has been awarded – when I took office, I was at zero. At that time, there was even a discussion about whether we needed the thermal baths at all. Now it will open at the end of the year. Next door, there are cranes in the Sprudelhof, and work is being done. The heart of the city is locked. We first had to explain this longer-term construction project, which is being implemented with the Landesbetrieb Bau und Immobilien Hessen. What is happening there with the spa center and nursing academy is certainly also a highlight. It has also been possible to revive the drinking spa facility.

And what about Germany's largest geothermal collector in the southern construction area?