Tiffin City Council appoints Kyle Daugherty to at-large seat

The Tiffin City Council appointed candidate Kyle Daugherty to fill the vacant councilmember at-large seat after three rounds of balloting at a special meeting, then adopted a resolution formalizing the appointment through Dec. 31, 2025.

The choice followed a public interview and question-and-answer session with four applicants. In the final head-to-head roll call, Councilmembers Snay, Mark Hayes, Herneman and Reisner voted for Kyle Daugherty; Councilmembers Thacker and Erin Jones voted for Ashley Decker. Councilmember Erin Jones introduced a resolution to appoint the selected candidate and moved for immediate passage; Councilmember Reisner seconded the motion.

Nut graf: The appointment fills the councilmember at-large vacancy and is effective immediately under the resolution the council passed. The council also suspended its three-reading rule and declared an emergency to adopt the measure during the special meeting.

Council procedure and votes: The council first conducted an open interview with four candidates — Kyle Daugherty, Ashley Decker, Dan (Daniel) Perry and Evan (Schlitter/Schleeder) — and took successive rounds of votes when no candidate achieved a majority on the first ballot. The first round produced an even distribution (two votes each among three candidates). A second round among the three candidates who had received votes gave Daugherty a 3-2 plurality. A final one-on-one roll call between Daugherty and Decker produced the 4-2 result that selected Daugherty. After the selection, the body read Resolution 25-16 (appointment to the councilmember at-large seat until 12/31/2025). The council voted 6-0 to suspend the three-reading rule, 6-0 on the emergency, and the resolution was adopted by voice roll call with recorded “yes” votes.

Quotes from the meeting reflected candidates’ motivations and council remarks. Candidate Kyle Daugherty said, "I humbly ask for your vote to take over the position for Mr. Kahler." Candidate Ashley Decker said she wanted to "serve Tiffin, all the people of Tiffin," citing experience with local businesses and a nonprofit land conservancy. Councilmember Ben Reisner addressed candidates who were not selected, advising them not to be discouraged and noting other community ways to contribute.

After the resolution passed, the council administered the oath of office and sworn Daugherty into the councilmember at-large seat that evening.

Votes at a glance: Final appointment vote — Kyle Daugherty: Snay (yes), Hayes (yes), Herneman (yes), Reisner (yes); Ashley Decker: Thacker (yes), Erin Jones (yes). Resolution 25-16 (appointment through Dec. 31, 2025): suspension of three-reading rule — 6-0; emergency — 6-0; resolution adoption — recorded as passed (6-0).