Kurt Black

Kurt Walter Black (born October 9, 1995) is a German-born Baltic politician who has represented Lithuania's 44th district in the Senate of Balta since 2017.

Early life
Kurt Walter Black was born in Munich, Germany on October 9, 1995 to a German mother and Baltic father. He has held dual citizenship in Germany and Balta since birth.

In 1998, Black and his family moved from Munich to Klaipėda, Balta. In September 2014, Black enrolled in Klaipėda Public College.

2017 appointment
On December 29, 2016, Senator Paul Roth from Lithuania's 44th district died from a heart attack. Roth was a member of the Socialist Party, serving alongside SDP Senators Jan Thomas and Nathan Hewitt.

DPP Governor of Lithuania Owen Butler was required to appoint Roth's replacement within ten days. The Baltic constitution requires the appointee to be of the same party as the departing senator.

In 2015, Black had served as an intern for Governor Butler. This caused Butler to list Black as one of the six potential appointees. At the time, Black was in his third year of college; he served as the President of Klaipėda Public College's Youth Socialists chapter.

On January 4, 2017, Butler officially appointed Black to the Senate seat. Black accepted, and dropped out of college. He was sworn in on January 6, becoming the second-youngest senator ever.

2018 election

 * Main article: 2018 Senate of Balta elections in Lithuania

As an appointed senator, Black was entitled to serve the rest of Roth's two-year term. Black announced his intention to seek re-election on December 3, 2017. His colleagues Thomas and Hewitt both also ran for re-election.

In the 2018 election, Black was a front-runner in a field of 14 candidates. On August 4, 2018, Black was re-elected to the Senate, along with his colleague Nathan Hewitt and Green Party newcomer Claire Dawson.