Frank John: New beginning for the Saarpfalz district after 10 years of Gallo!

Frank John: New beginning for the Saarpfalz district after 10 years of Gallo!

On May 27, 2025, an important ceremony to hand over the district office took place in the Saarpfalz district. Dr. Theophil Gallo said goodbye after a ten-year term, while Frank John, the former mayor of Kirkel, will take up his new office on June 1, 2025. The handover was attended by over 300 guests, including political companions and delegations from abroad. The French chansonnier Noël Walterthum performed as musical accompaniment and created a festive atmosphere.

In his inaugural speech, Frank John emphasized his desire to be a “hands-on district administrator”. His intended goal is to make the Saarpfalz district a place that is friendly to live and work in, with the focus on employees and citizens. He also announced that he wanted to strengthen trust, appreciation and cohesion in the administration. Another important point is John's commitment to the fire department and the emergency services.

Election and results

Frank John was previously elected as the new district administrator of the Saarpfalz district in a runoff election on June 23, 2024. The preliminary results of the election gave John 26,378 votes, which corresponded to 60.63% of the vote. His competitor Klaus-Ludwig Fess from the CDU received 17,125 votes (39.37%). The voter turnout in the Saarpfalz district was 38.63%. Dr. Gallo congratulated John in the district office on election night and praised his preparation and local political experience. Prime Minister Anke Rehlinger also personally congratulated Frank John.

Dr. Gallo, who was praised for his achievements over the past decade, spoke about the challenges of recent years, such as digitalization and climate change. He particularly emphasized the importance of international partnerships, including with regions in France, Poland, Ukraine and the USA. Gallo also praised the fair election campaign of his challenger Klaus-Ludwig Fess and the good result he achieved, even if the low voter turnout was regrettable.

Political agenda and outlook

Frank John's political agenda includes four central points: He wants to keep the focus on people and employees, strengthen cooperation with municipalities, continue the European idea and interpret Jakob Philipp Siebenpfeiffer's values ​​in a modern way. These goals reflect his efforts to make the Saarpfalz district even more future-oriented.

The handover of office and the election of Frank John not only represent a change in the leadership of the Saarpfalz district, but also an emotional and politically significant turning point for the region. With new impulses and a clear focus on the needs of citizens, John hopes to bring about positive change.

You can find further information about these developments on the website of Homburg1 as well as Saarpfalz district read up.