Elections | Strausberg is not New York

On election posters and in person: Knut Steinkopf (Left Party) is very present in the city whose he wants to become mayor. Photo: nd/Andreas Fritsche In the shadow of the Berlin House of Representatives election on September 20th, voting will also take place on the same day at the gates of the capital in Strausberg, Brandenburg. While Berliners, depending on their political views, tremble or hope that Elif Eralp (Left) will become the governing mayor, in Strausberg Knut Steinkopf (Left) has the opportunity to become the new mayor of his old homeland.

Steinkopf, who grew up in Strausberg, is preparing to move with his family from Berlin to where his parents still live. The candidate is 55 years old and works for the Verdi service union. He narrowly missed the runoff in the Strausberg mayoral election in February. He was only 1.3 percentage points short, or a paltry 147 votes.

However, due to an unusually low response rate for the postal voting documents, suspicions of manipulation arose, and the vote will now be repeated. Apart from Annette Binder (independent), who was so close to Steinkopf in the spring, and himself, Dennis Panser (AfD) and two other candidates forego a second attempt. Instead, two new individual applicants have registered: FDP member Robert Krause and former CDU city councilor Stephan Blumenthal. So the cards are being reshuffled and no one can predict how the race will turn out this time.

It's a long road for Steinkopf and his supporters. They have been in election campaign mode since September last year. 180 people took part in the campaign, including 104 in door-to-door voting.

Where the Berlin Left is inspired by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, for example in its concept of neighborhood canteens that offer meals for three euros, the question arises as to whether Steinkopf could become something like Strausberg's Zohran Mamdani. He defends himself with a smile: “I think the comparison is a bit daring. Strausberg is not New York.«

The fact is: Steinkopf represents the idea of ​​a social city. “I am a candidate with a program,” assures the 55-year-old. It has been considered and deliberated for a long time. This is out of the question for the two candidates Krause and Blumenthal, who have only recently decided to become mayor. “You have to know where you come from and where you want to go,” says Steinkopf at every opportunity.

»1500 euros rent for three rooms is too much.«

From conversations with citizens, he knows where the problem is. “1,500 euros in rent for three rooms is too much.” He wants to agree on affordable new rentals and apartment exchanges with the municipal housing company, housing cooperatives and tenant initiatives. Steinkopf would like to open schools, daycare centers and gymnasiums more to sport, culture and encounters.

»A mayor has to listen, act reliably and make decisions together with people instead of over their heads. I'm ready for this and have the necessary tools," says the candidate. »In Strausberg, no one should be left behind if we tackle the challenges of the future together.«

Regarding the Bundeswehr, which is omnipresent in Strausberg, Steinkopf positions itself clearly differently than his competitors who are in favor of rearmament or who are maneuvering on this issue. Steinkopf believes that the 300-year-old garrison town should be “taken up a level in terms of peace policy.” The BSW nevertheless carefully avoids making an election recommendation for him. The supporters of the Wagenknecht party can and must decide for themselves how important peace is to them and a mayor with a clear stance on this.

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