Wachtberg's mayor Jörg Schmidt resigns after a stroke

Wachtberg's mayor Jörg Schmidt resigns after a stroke

Wachtberg, Deutschland - A dramatic resignation shakes the political landscape in Wachtberg! Mayor Jörg Schmidt, the fifth of six local chiefs in the Rhein-Sieg-Kreis on the left Rhine, has announced that it would no longer be elected. On Monday evening, the Christian Democrat from Adendorf informed the party board of his decision. Almost all mayors leave their offices, with the exception of Petra Kalkbrenner (CDU) in Swisttal. Schmidt follows the non-party Christoph Becker (Bornheim) and Ludger Banken (Rheinbach) as well as the CDU colleagues Rolf Schumacher (Alfter) and Holger Jung (Meckenheim).

The reasons for Schmidt's withdrawal are alarming! After a stroke and intensive rehabilitation, the health -minded incumbent has decided to prioritize his life for himself and his family. "Being mayor is a very nice job, but also very stressful," explains Schmidt and warns of the risk of another stroke. His physical restrictions are serious: he is often dependent on a wheelchair and fights with the challenges of everyday life. "I can't come to my office room," he complains about the lack of accessibility in the town hall.

Health challenges and future plans

Schmidt, who appeared in public for the first time since his stroke, is combative, but also vulnerable. "My hand burns and twitches," he describes his symptoms as he fights up the stairs with a stick. Despite the difficulties, he remains optimistic: the neurologist is convinced that his nerves will grow back. "I have stayed hope of improvement," he says and plans to devote himself to the beautiful things of life in the future.

The search for a successor has already started. Schmidt encourages possible candidates to apply and indicate that the deputy Swen Christian could be an option. An internal election could take place on January 20, but the exact details are still unclear. So Wachtberg is facing a fresh start, while Schmidt focuses on his recovery.