School access and talks with Rastede
Eilers, 52, identified schools and child care, municipal finances and the development of Wiefelstede's districts as major challenges. He said he is already working on school development and wants to continue discussions with neighboring Rastede to secure dependable schooling in the Gymnasium academic track for Wiefelstede's children and teenagers.
Wiefelstede has no upper secondary Gymnasium level of its own. In the 2025–26 school year, 748 students from the municipality attended schools elsewhere. Of those, 565 attended an outside Gymnasium, including 416 in the academic branch of the Kooperative Gesamtschule (KGS) Rastede, according to NWZonline.
Access to the KGS is the subject of school-contract discussions between the municipalities. Rastede terminated their 2011 agreement effective December 31, 2026. However, Ammerland district administrator Karin Harms said on May 20, 2026, that the agreement remained fully legally effective for the 2026–27 school year and entitled Wiefelstede students to admission. The district also said Wiefelstede had indicated it could supply additional container classrooms at no charge to ease space constraints.
A proposed replacement agreement, intended to take effect on August 1, 2026, would have limited admissions from Wiefelstede to available capacity and given Rastede residents priority. Entry to grade 5 in the academic branch would likewise have been subject to capacity limits. Wiefelstede's school committee deferred its decision rather than approving the draft.
Under that proposal, the KGS would aim to operate five parallel Gymnasium classes, three Realschul classes and two Hauptschul classes. The calculation of Wiefelstede's demand for Gymnasium places would use 50% of the children enrolled in grade 4 at the municipality's elementary schools.
The local parties have proposed different longer-term arrangements. Wiefelstede's CDU called in its 2026 election platform for a Gymnasium jointly administered by Rastede and Wiefelstede, modeled on Gymnasium Bad Zwischenahn-Edewecht. Rastede's administration rejected that approach, pointing to the KGS's strong academic branch and saying capacity relief was needed at the lower secondary level of that branch. Wiefelstede's SPD instead favors a local Integrierte Gesamtschule, an integrated comprehensive school covering grades 5–13.
A districtwide school development plan is also being prepared. Harms said in May that Ammerland was working toward a lasting solution for the period beginning with the 2027–28 school year.
Business support and investment priorities
Alongside schools, Eilers singled out the local economy as a priority for his first months in office. He said local businesses sustain jobs, create opportunities and contribute to both prosperity and the municipality's ability to fund its work.
His plans include closer communication with businesses, dependable contacts within the administration, transparent procedures and advance planning for commercial land. He wants to support existing firms while attracting new ones.
Eilers listed schools, safe roads and bike paths, and affordable housing among the areas needing investment. Sports facilities, public facilities and infrastructure in individual districts also need attention, he said. He wants the council to assess needs and establish priorities within the municipality's financial means.
For climate protection and the energy transition, he advocated practical measures, including improving energy efficiency in municipal buildings and expanding renewable energy. Decisions should take account of both costs and concrete benefits, he said.
An entrepreneur's approach to local government
Eilers ran his own IT company for more than 25 years. He said managing employees, projects, finances and customer relationships had given him experience in taking responsibility, making decisions and finding solutions under difficult circumstances.
Rather than promising immediate changes to the administration, he said he would first examine existing processes and retain what works. He wants to draw on the expertise of municipal departments, develop solutions with staff and remain accessible to residents.
He also plans regular discussions with local clubs and volunteer organizations so their concerns can be addressed early. He called for easier-to-understand funding options, fewer bureaucratic obstacles and reliable administrative contacts.
In the council, Eilers said he wants to work openly and on equal terms with all political groups and council members. His approach would be to begin discussions early, weigh arguments and identify common ground, while remaining clear about his positions and willing to compromise.
Asked how residents should judge his term, he pointed to dependable school provision, a stronger local economy and infrastructure suited to each district's needs. He also wants an administration that takes residents' concerns seriously and works to resolve them.
From a four-way race to a runoff victory
Eilers lives in Spohle, a district of Wiefelstede, and ran as an independent. He led the first round of the mayoral election on September 13, 2026, with 29.9% of the vote. Thorsten Jan-Dirk Cordes of the CDU received 27.1%, Michael Koch of the FDP 23.9%, and independent candidate Caroline Viktoria Heep 19.1%. Turnout was 71.9%.
In the September 27 runoff, Eilers defeated Cordes with 68.7% to 31.3%. He received 4,727 votes to Cordes' 2,156, a margin of 2,571 votes. Runoff turnout was 52.7%.
