My Professional Journey – From the Submarine to City Hall

Herzogenaurach is world-renowned thanks to adidas, Puma, and Schaeffler — our three global players, which shape our city through their global presence and the international character of our community. Their influence extends far beyond our borders, and we are proud of that. Yet our small and medium-sized enterprises, craft businesses, and service providers are equally important for a strong, well-diversified economy, as they sustain our city through dedication and hard work. For us at the CSU Herzogenaurach, the principle is clear: we represent for everyone — from small family-run businesses to innovative mid-sized companies to multinational corporations. Our goal is to create conditions that enable economic success, secure jobs, and foster sustainable development. A strong economy is the foundation of prosperity and quality of life in Herzogenaurach.

 In the coming years, we will especially work to ensure that …

• we provide the best possible support to our local economy by creating favorable conditions (e.g., maintaining current business tax rates) and increasing dialogue with business owners to learn how our administration can improve.

• we continue to prioritize the allocation of available commercial land and offer alternative models such as long-term leasehold agreements to ease the financial burden for new businesses.

• new companies continue to settle in Herzogenaurach and enrich our city life. To this end, we will create incentives for business establishment, such as transparent information on building regulations, including practical parking requirements.

• our city administration provides a centralized, knowledgeable point of contact for all business owners. Whether small entrepreneurs seeking permits, startups looking for support, or questions regarding economic development — we want to actively shape growth through support for local supply chains and regional business cooperation.

• our mayor, Stefan Zenger, will treat business development and attracting corporations as one of his core responsibilities.

Stable finances are the foundation for Herzogenaurach to not only fulfill mandatory duties but also maintain voluntary services in education, culture and sports. These include investments in clubs, volunteer initiatives, events, and offerings that make our city livable — such as the HerzoBus network, the Atlantis leisure pool, the outdoor pool, the adult education center VHS, the music school, and the summer festival Sommerkirchweih. Sound fiscal management ensures our ability to strengthen education, infrastructure, culture, community life, and public safety in the long run. For us, good governance means taking responsibility today while preparing sustainably for the future. This creates an administration that makes pragmatic, goal-oriented decisions and provides tangible value to our citizens.

In the coming years, we will especially work to ensure that …

• property tax revenue remains stable at the 2024 level. This means the new property tax system will not increase the city’s income compared to before. We will not fix the city’s finances at the expense of our citizens.

• the long-standing business tax multiplier remains unchanged, preserving affordability for companies. Introduced over 40 years ago under CSU Mayor Hans Lang, this rate stands for stability and continuity.

• after decades, the outdated organizational structure and division of responsibilities will be modernized to reflect current needs of citizens. We will create a new structure that improves efficiency by using synergies, simplifying processes, reducing bureaucracy, outsourcing tasks where appropriate and making workflows more user-friendly.

• decisions on future projects are not only made based on  investment costs but also by calculating foreseeable operating and follow-up costs transparently before any decisions are made. This allows us to control rising maintenance and operating expenses and achieve long-term relief for the municipal budget.

Our city administration provides essential services and supports daily life throughout Herzogenaurach. To make these services even faster, easier, and more user-friendly, we are committed to reducing bureaucracy and pursuing consistent digitalization. Modern digital processes save time, reduce costs, and increase transparency. New technologies, artificial intelligence, and the redesign of outdated procedures help streamline workflows and improve service for all residents. At the same time, we will maintain a service-oriented, personal contact area in City Hall for those who prefer or require in-person assistance. This strengthens efficiency while keeping the administration accessible to everyone.

In the coming years, we will especially work to ensure that …

• e-government (digital administrative services) and digital citizen participation are expanded, including more options to submit applications electronically and securely receive documents. This also includes flexible document pickup, such as a citizen service locker that allows collection without an appointment.

• administrative procedures — old and new — become more efficient and user-friendly, such as enabling uncomplicated digital submission of renewal applications.

• unnecessary bureaucracy is avoided and existing hurdles are reduced. This means eliminating overly detailed or restrictive regulations (e.g., parking ordinances or tree protection rules) and regularly reviewing existing requirements for their usefulness and the burden they place on citizens. This especially includes building codes and zoning regulations, allowing the city to respond to current needs more quickly (e.g., housing development).

Herzogenaurach is our home — a city where we enjoy living, feel comfortable, and want to help shape the future. To ensure that our citizens continue to live happily and confidently in Herzogenaurach, we need a strong community and reliable structures. A central pillar of this is our volunteer fire department. They work around the clock to keep us safe, protect our health and lives, and firmly stand at the side of all of us. This extraordinary commitment deserves our deepest gratitude and full support. A livable Herzogenaurach also requires an active citizenry that participates and helps move our city forward.

In the coming years, we will especially work to ensure that …

• our volunteer fire department continue to receive the best possible support through modern equipment, solid financing, and high-quality training.

• our volunteer fire departments receive comprehensive assistance not only in emergencies but also in organizing events — with appropriate equipment, streamlined approval processes, and help with implementation.

• we reestablish direct communication with our citizens and listen to what concerns them (e.g., through assemblies or surveys), including our students and every individual. We focus on the issues that truly matter to people.

Our clubs and volunteers are the backbone of social life in Herzogenaurach. They shape our culture, create a sense of community, and contribute invaluable work to our city every day. Whether in sports, culture, music, traditions, or social engagement — our clubs bring together people of all backgrounds and generations. They give our city a vibrant identity. This commitment deserves our highest appreciation, gratitude, and reliable support. Together with our clubs, we want to make Herzogenaurach a lively city again and strengthen the volunteer spirit of our dedicated residents.

In the coming years, we will especially work to ensure that …

• cooperation between volunteers and the city administration is improved. Clubs should have opportunities to participate in city festivals without major financial or organizational burdens (e.g., reduced usage fees, simplified safety requirements, Garage Flea Market at HerzoBase).

• clubs gain more opportunities to showcase themselves and play an even larger role in community life — through new concepts for the old town festival Altstadtfest, cultural events, and our Sommerkirchweih (e.g., extended opening hours, equipment provided by the city, logistical support, publication in the official bulletin).

• citizens engaged in volunteer work become more visible and, where possible, receive additional municipal benefits as a token of appreciation through the Bavarian Volunteer Card.

Culture and sports make Herzogenaurach lively, diverse, and appealing. Our city benefits from a rich cultural landscape that blends tradition with modernity. Our strong club life, which brings together people of all backgrounds and ages, is also a key reason for our city’s lasting attractiveness. Through events, celebrations, and cultural offerings, we preserve our history and traditions while creating new impulses for the future. Sports and creative cultural work strengthen community, cohesion, and identity — they express the spirit of a joyful and open Herzogenaurach. We want to preserve, promote, and expand this engagement.

In the coming years, we will especially work to ensure that …

• our event concepts and regulations (e.g., extended opening hours) are updated and simplified to provide noticeable relief to clubs, vendors, and businesses — so that our events, especially the Sommerkirchweih, once again become major regional attractions.

• the history of our “Big Three” Adidas, Puma, Schaeffler, becomes visible and tangible in the cityscape, e.g., through public multimedia displays, a Walk of Fame, or similar initiatives.

• a yearly city motto is established, supported by the administration, including public artworks, school projects, and dedicated events.

• more opportunities for open-air events are created by making areas like the Weihersbach grounds more versatile for artists, bands, clubs, sports events, and more.

• the traditions and local festivals in all city districts are preserved and made accessible to all residents, such as the fairs held in nearly every district.

• the city’s event calendar and event selection are fully revised. This means more regionality in cultural programming (e.g., local artists) and supporting festivals representing the many cultures that have found a home here.

• a sustainable concept for the future of our community center Vereinshaus is finally developed and implemented, ensuring the facility is fully available to residents again.

• once our financial plan is implemented, rental fees for sports halls will be reduced again and investment grants for clubs secured.

Good mobility is essential for Herzogenaurach — for families, commuters, and residents of all ages. We aim to design mobility so that it is sustainable, safe, and accessible to everyone. We are committed to individual local transportation, which remains indispensable, especially in many districts and for families. Therefore, modern technologies must be supported. At the same time, an attractive and reliable public transport system is a key part of our mobility vision. By combining both approaches, we create opportunities to make transportation more efficient, environmentally friendly, and convenient. Our goal is a mobility concept tailored to residents' needs while embracing innovation and technological progress.

In the coming years, we will especially work to ensure that …

• we evaluate the medium-term introduction of an autonomous, integrated public transport system (IPNV) in Herzogenaurach. With support from local companies, we want Herzogenaurach to become a model city for advanced mobility. Smaller self-driving vehicles or buses could provide flexible connections to areas not served by current bus routes due to structural limitations (e.g., narrow streets) or cost concerns (e.g., 24/7 service).
• HerzoBus routes are adapted to meet demand.
• the city secures a rail connection. Recent years have shown that, based on current knowledge and decisions, the Stadt-Umland-Bahn (StUB) is the appropriate choice.
• residents are offered secure, long-term, and centrally located bicycle parking options. Bicycles are often high-value items and provide mobility advantages, especially during events. We will prioritize planning and applying for funding to build secure, weather-protected bicycle parking facilities.

Herzogenaurach should remain a city where people enjoy living and feel comfortable. Urban development and environmental protection go hand in hand: we want to create spaces without harming natural resources. Green areas, clean air, and an intact environment are the foundation of our city’s quality of life — today and for future generations. Therefore, we support sustainable development that strengthens both the city and nature.

In the coming years, we will especially work to ensure that …

• a new market concept is implemented so that the city market can be attractively held within the existing pedestrian zone.

• the downtown area is redesigned with more trees and greenery to improve the quality of stay and with flexible structures to prepare the area for events quickly and cost-effectively.

• conditions for restaurants and cafés are improved by simplifying outdoor seating approvals, applying flexible assessments, and revising safety requirements, e.g., for post-fair events.

• the city center becomes more attractive and vibrant so that everyone can enjoy spending time there. This includes safe and conflict-free integration of pedestrian and bicycle traffic as well as creating additional parking spaces and suitable access routes. Our goal is a city center that is easily accessible and inviting for shopping, strolling, and leisure.

• large open areas such as the Aurach Meadows and Wiwaweiher are re-evaluated and developed with a holistic view of the city, enabling targeted use for residents (e.g., parks for seniors, outdoor playgrounds and sports areas for youth), while also helping reduce the goose population in the city center.

• dedicated habitat areas for local plant- and wildlife are created in outer zones, including new flood plains and peatlands that serve as valuable ecosystems. This provides visible local climate protection, improves ecological balance, and actively involves residents — contributing to a healthier environment and better CO₂ footprint.

• we continue expanding our renewable energy initiatives for example from solar energy and wind power. We will ensure financial viability to guarantee stable revenue while responsibly advancing the energy transition.

Affordable housing is one of the major challenges of our time — including in Herzogenaurach. We want to ensure that young families, single individuals, seniors, and anyone who wishes to live and work here can find a home. At the same time, we are committed to a strong social community that strengthens neighborhoods and ensures that no one is left behind. This is how Herzogenaurach remains a city where everyone feels welcome and where all generations can live well together.

In the coming years, we will especially work to ensure that …

• we can support families purchasing their first home in Herzogenaurach in an uncomplicated and individualized way.

• we keep demographic changes in mind. This means considering the needs of older generations (e.g., giving priority to providers of senior-friendly housing when allocating suitable city-owned land), while also valuing and taking seriously the concerns of younger generations (e.g., regular exchanges with youth representatives from schools and companies).

• a municipal housing association is founded. We pursue two main goals: actively shaping the Herzogenaurach housing market to secure and develop housing, and investing city reserves in a socially responsible manner so that the city can access them when needed.

• the city initiates more support programs, such as further developing the initiative Demenzfreundliche Kommune Mittelfranken – dementia friendly city.

• more opportunities for work and integration are created for refugees.

• the city’s long-standing international character becomes more visible, e.g., through new opportunities for intercultural exchange.

We — the people of Herzogenaurach — are the heart of our city. We give it a future and a sense of unity. But we also need the freedom and support to help shape our city in meaningful ways. For parents to balance work and family life, reliable childcare services are essential. To reach and support our young people and future generations, we need close cooperation with local schools and educational institutions. To remain a home for our seniors, we need measures that enable self-determined living. This includes offers from organizations such as Lebenshilfe e.V. and the Volkshochschule VHS (adult education center), which serve our entire community. Together we ensure that Herzogenaurach remains a city by all of us, for all of us.

In the coming years, we will especially work to ensure that …

• our children continue to receive the best possible care and education. This means intensifying cooperation with our reliable local partners — such as churches and social institutions like Lebenshilfe or the VHS — to create targeted learning and development opportunities.

• we gather data on childcare and family needs and implement measures to improve family support. This includes a comprehensive overview and forecast of daycare and preschool capacities. If this allows for adjustments to school district boundaries, we will advocate for children living in HerzoBase to attend the elementary school in Niederndorf in the future.

• youth receive meeting places without the pressure to purchase something, offering safe spaces for community and retreat. We want to strengthen open youth work and provide spaces managed and designed by young people themselves. This includes the long-promised skate park and a “Digital Youth Center 2.0” offering programming workshops, access to 3D printers, and modern media skills training in cooperation with schools and companies.

• youth development programs are expanded and cooperation with clubs is strengthened. This will help young people get involved more easily while enabling clubs to attract new members, e.g., through expanded sponsored trial memberships.

• seniors are better integrated into city life through targeted programs, such as (information) events at the communal center Generationenzentrum, new meeting opportunities, or support services — including the registration and coordination of volunteers who offer everyday assistance.

• the city develops concepts for senior care and support, such as neighborhood-based care and shared living arrangements for people with dementia, to address demographic change.

Developments in recent years show that discussions about safety, prevention, and public order must no longer be taboo. We firmly believe that Herzogenaurach must proactively address these issues. The focus is on how we can continue to feel safe in our city in the future and how to act in a potential regional emergency — even though we hope such measures will never be needed. To achieve this, we support close cooperation with the police, emergency services, and all actors involved in civil protection. Only through reliable structures can we ensure that citizens have the support they need at all times.

In the coming years, we will especially work to ensure that …

• safety at municipal events and public places is guaranteed and continually improved. This includes tailored emergency concepts (e.g., video monitoring) and event-related or structural safety rules customized to each individual event.

• coordination and communication with the district administration office Landratsamt — responsible for disaster management — become more transparent and accessible to all citizens. At the same time, we will examine what role the city itself can take in civil protection.

• safety on school routes is improved through regular review of school route plans, bus stops, and close cooperation with schools, parent councils, police, and the traffic safety organization Verkehrswacht. Adjusting school district boundaries may also ease traffic patterns and increase daily safety for students.

• citizens can rely on the continued operation of the services that define our city — public transit, swimming pools, cultural facilities, events, and voluntary programs. These offerings shape life in Herzogenaurach and significantly contribute to our city’s quality of life.

• improvised street barriers (e.g., orange trucks parked as blockades) are replaced with professional safety installations.