The longtime mayor of Hrádek nad Nisou in Liberecka and regional representative Josef Horinka (Mayors for the Liberec Region) has died, he would have celebrated his 56th birthday in December. He died suddenly on Thursday afternoon, his party colleague, senator and mayor of Chrastava Michael Canov announced his death on social networks.
Until the election of a new mayor, the deputy mayor Pavel Farský (Hrádek needs changes!), Horink’s longtime collaborator, takes over all tasks.
“My esteemed colleague, the mayor of Hrádek nad Nisou, Mr. Josef Horinka, died this afternoon. This is terrible news for me and I am extremely sorry. Sincere and deep condolences to his wife Jana and the whole family, sincere condolences to all the citizens of Hrádek nad Nisou and all the people who knew and loved him,” Canov wrote.
“Pepa Horinka gave everything he could and could to Hrádek and to the transformation of our city for the better. All your knowledge, strength and energy. 12 years as mayor and six years before that as deputy mayor. I lost a friend with whom I often consulted and talked about work and problems. A partner with whom we rejoiced when we succeeded in something. I will miss all of this,” responded to the sad event, Governor Martin Půta (Mayors for the Liberec Region). He also expressed his condolences to the family.
Horinka entered politics in 2002, when he first ran for the city council in Hrádek nad Nisou for the ODS. He succeeded four years later, when he was already on the candidate list of the group Hrádek needs changes! led by Půta, and he also became deputy mayor. He became the head of the city in 2012, when he replaced Půta, who was elected head of the Liberec Region. As a member of the Mayors for the Liberec Region movement, Horinka repeatedly defended the post of mayor in subsequent elections. In the last ones, they had only one candidate in the city of 8,000, against the Hrádek group, it needs changes! nobody stood up two years ago.
The news of Horink’s death surprised even the deputy mayor of Farský. “We didn’t expect anything like this, he was after spinal surgery, he was getting better,” Farský told ČTK. According to him, Horinka lived for the city and his work can be seen at every step. The council in Hrádek will now have only 24 members, one less, the legislation allows this. “There is no substitute,” remarked Farský.
The Hrádek group needs changes! compiled a candidate list for the last elections with 25 members, which corresponded to the number of seats in the council, no one submitted another candidate for the municipal elections in the city. Thus, all the candidates got into the council in autumn 2022. According to Farský, it has not yet been decided when the council will elect a new mayor and possibly a deputy mayor. “It’s too fresh,” he said. According to him, the next regular meeting of the council in Hrádek nad Nisou is scheduled for May 22.
