The German island town of Wangerooge, located in the North Sea, is turning to a local newspaper to search for its next mayor.
The town’s political parties—the Christian Democratic Union, the Social Democratic Party, and the Green Party—have come together to place the vacancy announcement, aiming to attract candidates for the key leadership role.
Published in the local paper on Saturday, the ad promises prospective candidates the opportunity to “shape the future in a responsible position.” The advertisement will be distributed through additional media outlets in the coming days.
The ad outlines the specific qualifications required for the future mayor: candidates must be willing to live on the island, possess a university degree (preferably with relevant experience), and meet age requirements as set by the Lower Saxony constitution.
The three parties explain that Wangerooge is facing a severe shortage of qualified workers, which has made the search for employees in administrative roles “almost impossible.” However, as Spiegel reported, the town had success with a similar approach seven years ago, when they found their current mayor, Marcel Fangor, following the sudden death of his predecessor.
Wangerooge recently made headlines again with an online ad seeking a lighthouse keeper, further highlighting the island’s ongoing efforts to fill critical positions.
The mayoral election is scheduled for August 17, and applications will be accepted until June 14.
