Hans Østergaard (V), who is mayor of Denmark's energy municipality no. 1 measured by capacity, Ringkøbing-Skjern Municipality, has decided to step down as mayor after the municipal elections in 2025. He states this in a press release.
- It has not been an easy decision, but after careful consideration over the summer, I have decided not to run again, he says.
Hans Østergaard, who became mayor after the 2017 municipal election, writes that he "must acknowledge that I will be 67 next time".
- When I also have a large family, it is clear that there are some things that I have neglected and that I would like to prioritize in my upcoming third age, even though politics is still exciting, writes Hans Østergaard.
Østergaard got his start in politics in 1997, when he was elected to the city council in Videbæk Municipality.
He voluntarily stopped after the municipality was merged with the municipalities of Egvad, Holmsland, Ringkøbing and Skjern to form Ringkøbing-Skjern - although only for a single election period between 2010 and 2013. In 2018, he took over from Iver Enevoldsen, who was mayor between 2010 and 2018.
- There has been a formidable collaboration in the city council, where we have created the peace of mind for both citizens and businesses that ensures that a rural municipality like Ringkøbing-Skjern is developed rather than liquidated, writes Hans Østergaard.
Left-wing party starts the hunt for a new candidate
The mayor has already informed the Left group in the city council that he does not intend to continue as mayor after the next municipal election. The party is now starting to find a new lead candidate, says Hans Christian Tylvad, the party's chairman in the municipal association.
- We expect to hold a nomination meeting in October, where Venstre members will decide who will be our candidate for a new mayor in Ringkøbing-Skjern Municipality.
- It is a position that Venstre has a tradition of contesting in broad cooperation, and we look forward to continuing that, says Christian Tylvad.
Former Venstre man goes for the position in Ringkøbing-Skjern
The Danish Democrats' member of parliament, Mads Fuglede, who has a past in Venstre, has previously entered the race as a mayoral candidate in Ringkøbing-Skjern Municipality with the goal of toppling Venstre from the mayoral throne. If successful, he will stop in the Folketing, but the big goal is a new energy policy in the West Jutland municipality, he told Ritzau in June.
- I am happy to be in the Folketing and to represent DD in the Folketing. But there is a very, very intense debate about energy policy in Ringkøbing-Skjern Municipality, which makes me think that I must also put my efforts into getting a new direction for it, he said.
The most important thing is to get a new course for energy policy in the municipality, Mads Fuglede emphasized. It is greed that drives the intentions in the energy projects. The politician wants to change that.
- Running as a mayoral candidate could be a way to do that. But I am prepared to point to almost anyone who wants to lead Ringkøbing-Skjern towards a different energy policy, Mads Fuglede told Ritzau.
Another large energy municipality must also have a new mayor
Hans Østergaard is thus the second prominent name from the municipal world who has announced in a few days that the current election period will be the last. So did SF's Tonni Hansen, who is mayor of Langeland Municipality, where the fourth most renewable energy is produced.
Tonni Hansen also cites age and a desire to be with his family more as reasons for not running again. The SF did so in an interview with Fyns Amts Avis this weekend. Like Hans Østergaard, Tonni Hansen is 66 years old and became mayor after the 2017 municipal elections.
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