German candidates differ on U.S. influx reception

[unhappycamper]

Posters for local elections at Grafenwohr, Germany.


German candidates differ on U.S. influx reception
By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Monday, February 25, 2008

GRAFENWÖHR, Germany — Relations between Grafenwöhr and the U.S. military will be under the spotlight during local elections next month.

The elections, which mirror local body contests going on all over Germany on March 2, pit 24-year Grafenwöhr mayor Helmuth Wächter, 58, against two newcomers contending for his job — Gerald Morgenstern, 49, and Thomas Schopf, 39.

The three agree that the American military presence in Grafenwöhr is a good thing but have different views on how the community should react to an influx of thousands of soldiers and family members expected over the next few years.

In a recent interview, Wächter said he’d retire after serving a final six-year term but he hopes to work with the Army to resolve issues as troops and families move in.

For many years the attitude of German government officials in Grafenwöhr has been to support the U.S. forces and minimize adverse impacts on the community, he said.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52801