Monthly Review February 2026: Key Decisions in the Rhein-Neckar District

Important Decisions in the District Council

What was important this month

• Election of the District Administrator: Manuel Just was elected as the new district administrator of the Rhein-Neckar district with 72 votes.
• Replacement of a District Councillor: Ms. Ramona Mauz from Rauenberg took over the seat of the late district councillor Timo Tichy.
• Formation of an Election Committee: A unanimously elected election committee oversaw the district administrator election according to clearly defined procedures.
• Transparency and Procedures: The election was conducted secretively using a standard ballot and in accordance with the rules of majority voting.
• Conflict of Interest Considered: The candidates Manuel Just and Ralf Frühwirt were not entitled to vote due to the election procedures.

District Council Implements Replacement and Re-election

On February 3, 2026, the district council of the Rhein-Neckar district met at the cultural center Palatin in Wiesloch and addressed two central topics: the replacement of a district councillor and the re-election of the district administrator. Following the death of district councillor Timo Tichy (died on December 28, 2025), Ms. Ramona Mauz from Rauenberg took over the seat to ensure representation in the district council.

In addition, Manuel Just was elected as the new district administrator of the district with 72 valid votes. Ralf Frühwirt received 20 votes, and four district councillors abstained. Since neither Just nor Frühwirt were entitled to vote, a qualified majority of 53 votes was required. The election was conducted in accordance with the rules of majority voting under § 39 (5) LKrO (Baden-Württemberg Local Government Act), with secret voting and the use of a standardized ballot.

Unanimously Elected Election Committee

To carry out the election in an orderly manner, the district council unanimously elected an election committee in accordance with § 39 (5) Sentence 2 LKrO. The chairperson is First State Official Hildebrandt. The seven committee members come from different parties to ensure fairness and neutrality. District Senior Administrative Officer Koder serves as secretary.

The election committee ensured that all seven steps of the election were correctly carried out. This is a crucial step to guarantee transparency and legal clarity in local politics.

Important Procedural Aspects and Conflict of Interest

The election of the district administrator is a central process in local self-government. In this case, it was especially important that the candidates Manuel Just and Ralf Frühwirt were disqualified from voting due to their application under § 14 LKrO. This is a clear requirement of local law to avoid conflicts of interest and to ensure the credibility of the election.

Procedural Security and Legal Compliance

The election procedures in the district council of the Rhein-Neckar district strictly follow legal requirements. The secret voting, the use of a standard ballot, and the clear procedures for a second or third round of voting, if necessary, show that the election processes in the region are transparent and legally compliant. This is essential to strengthen the trust of citizens in democratic structures.

Outlook

The Rhein-Neckar district is starting a new year with a new district administrator and a newly composed council. Manuel Just will play a decisive role in shaping the direction of district policy in the coming months. At the same time, personnel stability is ensured through the appointment of Ramona Mauz.

The compliance with legal requirements and the transparency of the election procedure show that democratic processes in the region are functioning. The district council has proven itself to be a reliable institution that builds trust even in challenging times.