TIFFIN, Ohio — After five rounds of voting, Tiffin City Council elected at-large council member Zack Perkins the new mayor Monday night.
Less than 24 hours later, Perkins notified Tiffin City Council and city administrators that he will not accept the office of mayor. He also resigned from council effective immediately.
The city of Tiffin did not provide any further comment as to what prompted Perkins’ abrupt resignation. Perkins served on Tiffin City Council since Jan. 19, 2021.
Perkins did not respond to WTOL 11's request for comment.
Perkins was among multiple candidates vying to fill the position of mayor, which was vacated by Aaron Montz in June. Montz resigned last month to become president of the Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership, a non-profit corporation designed to improve the area's economy.
The other candidates included fellow council member Dawn Iannantuono, Executive Director of the Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce Bryce Riggs, and local businessman and former college track coach Brian Cole.
The first four rounds of votes were split among three candidates as follows: two for Riggs, two for Iannantuono, and three for Perkins. Members of council were concerned they wouldn't come to a majority decision, and legally would have to defer to Seneca County Common Pleas Court to choose the next mayor.
Council President Ben Gillig was the deciding vote, flipping to support Perkins. Gillig cited Perkins’ honesty as what had earned his vote.
"I had to talk to council member Perkins, future mayor Perkins, about a lot of things that were not all that comfortable and he was always honest with me," Gillig said after the vote Monday. "Just knowing him as I do, I think he's going to do an outstanding job for Tiffin."
Gillig resigned over the weekend effective Tuesday, with the vote for Perkins being his final act on Tiffin City Council. Gillig made the decision to resign after his wife received a job opportunity with Bellefontaine City Schools. His seat on council will be filled by a nomination from the Seneca County Democratic Central Committee.
Council member Bridget Boyle has served as interim mayor since Montz’s resignation and was to continue serving until Perkins’ inauguration, which had not yet taken place.
Tiffin City Council, which is now down two members, is scheduled to meet for a regular session July 18 to determine the next steps to fill the position of mayor.
Montz’s term ends in December 2023.
This is a developing story.