Landrat
German Political Office / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Landrat is the chief administrative officer of a German Landkreis or Kreis and thus the highest municipal official.[1][2] They are somewhat equivalent to a US mayor.[2] In most states they are also the lower state administrative authority (so-called "dual position"[lower-alpha 1] of the Landrat). They represent the Kreis externally and are elected in most States of Germany directly.[1][2]