Perkins opts out as mayor

Tiffin City Councilman Zack Perkins resigned from council on Tuesday less than 24 hours after council selected him to serve out the unexpired term of former Mayor Aaron Montz. The decision came after a resident sent an email to three council members questioning Perkins' fitness for the job. Perkins informed council of his decision shortly after the Advertiser-Tribune made a public records request for the email, which was honored. The email was sent to Councilman Ken Jones, Councilman Steve Lepard and Councilwoman Vickie Wilkins, and a copy of it was provided to the newspaper by the city law director. Allegations made in the email could not be verified, and Perkins did not respond to questions about it. Perkins did make some posts at a personal social media account stating that he was resigning due to negativity and public backlash following his selection by council. Council members Dan Perry, Ben Gillig and Steve Lepard voted for Perkins, who also voted for himself on Monday, which was enough to make him the city's next mayor. Councilwoman Vickie Wilkins and Ken Jones both voted for Bryce Riggs, the director the the Seneca County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau who also submitted his name for consideration. Councilwoman Dawn Iannantuono voted for herself. Perry, Gillig, Iannantuono and Perkins did not receive the email that questioned Perkins' fitness for the job. The A-T also received a statement described as being authorized by a group of concerned residents. The statement suggested that council members were aware there were allegations and those issues should have been reviewed before there was a vote for a new mayor. The newspaper was unable, however, to verify that information. Nick Dutro, city communications and constituent services director, provided some clarification. "The afternoon of July 11, prior to the 6 p.m. special meeting of City Council, an email containing allegations concerning Perkins was sent to three council members. The letter was not discussed during Monday night's special meeting. The letter was not shared prior to the meeting with Acting Mayor Bridget Boyle or any member of City Administration. "On the morning of July 12, (the Advertiser-Tribune) made a public records request to the Clerk of Council and Director of Law for the letter. The Clerk of Council did not receive this letter. It was released by the Director of Law once he became aware of its existence," read the statement. With Perkins' resignation from both council and the mayoral position, city council will have to do another vote to select a candidate to finish Montz's unexpired term. With the resignation of Councilman Ben Gillig, council must also select a new president pro tempore. Council members have 30 days to select a new mayor, per the city charter; if they do not make a selection by then the decision goes to a common pleas court judge. Montz resigned earlier this month to become director at the Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership. His term expires at the end of 2022. City council now has two vacant seats and those will be filled by the Republican and Democratic Central Committees. According to Dutro, this will most likely happen after council has selected a mayor. Council will have a special meeting 6 p.m. Thursday, July 14, to select a new president pro tempore and to discuss how to proceed with fulfilling the mayoral vacancy.