talks with Dirk Leistner, candidate for mayor of the SPD party
In the run-up to the 2025 mayoral election in Witten, a group of concerned individuals, including Birgit Prünte, Sabrina Führer, Beate Telgheder, and Professor Dr. Carsten Rensinghoff, met with mayoral candidate Dirk Leistner to discuss issues concerning people with disabilities. The meeting, held on September 3, 2025, focused on mobility and public transportation, expressing a desire for service providers to show greater sensitivity towards disability.
This meeting came in stark contrast to the alleged negligence of the incumbent and re-election seeking mayor, Lars König of the CDU, and his predecessor, Katja Strauss-Köster, also of the CDU. Both declined requests for meetings with eligible voters with disabilities and their concerns, according to reports.
Strauss-Köster, now a Member of Parliament, has reportedly stayed away from disability policy events in her constituency before the 2025 federal election. This includes a discussion on the future of assistance needs, an event for the European Protest Day for the Equality of People with Disabilities, and a kitchen table discussion with Professor Dr. Carsten Rensinghoff.
The CDU in Witten and the entire Ennepe-Ruhr district appears to consider eligible voters with disabilities negligible, as suggested by these avoidances. This perception is further reinforced by the lack of accessibility at the recently opened children and youth office in Ruhrstraße 1.
In a positive development, Dirk Leistner, the Witten mayoral candidate, had previously engaged in discussions with Sabrina Wickel, Ben Luckner of DIE LINKE, and Christian Walker, the mayoral candidate of BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN. These conversations have been noted as enlightening and beneficial, offering a glimmer of hope for a more inclusive and accessible future for Witten's residents with disabilities.
The search for a current CDU member of the German parliament from Witten and the Ennepe-Ruhr district who has neglected the concerns of people with disabilities as shown by cancellations of relevant events remains ongoing. However, the actions of Strauss-Köster and König have raised questions about the CDU's commitment to addressing the needs of Witten's disabled community.
As the election approaches, it is crucial that all candidates address the concerns and needs of all Witten's residents, including those with disabilities. Only then can we strive for a more inclusive and equitable city.
Read also:
- Lu Shiow-yen's Challenging Position as Chair of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Under Scrutiny in Donovan's Analysis
- Palmer engages in a dispute with AfD.
- Eric Adams reportedly considering abandoning his mayoral campaign for a Trump administration position
- Musk Intends to Allocate $100 Million to Trump Supporters Following Tesla's Advertising in the White House
