Currently, women make up about 45 percent of the city council and, on average, 36 percent of the local advisory councils. But even once a high proportion of women has been achieved, there is no guarantee it will hold in the next election. And so the question arises again and again: How can we get (more) women interested in local politics?

Even though hardly any other area of politics is as diverse and as directly linked to daily life in the city as local politics, women often find it difficult to find a path into local politics, get involved, and, for example, run for a local advisory board or the city council. The newly revised brochure offers a wealth of information on this topic. Christin Sauer, district chairwoman of Hartenberg/Münchfeld, Claudia Siebner, local council chairwoman in Bretzenheim, and Sissi Westrich, local council chairwoman in Lerchenberg, on what local politics means for them specifically and how they shape their work as directly elected local council chairwomen.

“With this new edition, we want to once again spark the curiosity of women in Mainz about local politics and the variety and workings of the various committees,” said Eva Weickart, director of the Women’s Office. “After all, there will be many local political seats up for election again in 2024. To be precise, there are 270: 60 city council seats, 13 each in the 15 local advisory councils, and 15 directly elected local council chairs.” 

The brochure is now available at the Große Bleiche Stadthaus and at local administrative offices.