June 21,2000
City Council has two seats to fill
By Erik Burriss
Staff Writer
Tiffin City Council will have not one, but two vacancies to fill next month.
Todd Edmond announced Tuesday he will resign his seat as 3rd Ward councilman effective July 1.
The stress associated with being on City Council was affecting his personal life too much, said Edmond, who was sworn in in January.
"I had more stress with this than I felt when my dad died," he said. "A light went on when I realized that."
Mayor Bernie Hohman, who has been involved in city government since 1974, said this is the first time he can remember two City Council seats will be vacant at the same time.
"It can work; it will have to," Hohman said. "It's not going to be a disaster."
Edmond, a Columbian High School teacher, said the strain of being on City Council was negatively affecting his family and teaching.
"The decision has been over a month in the making," he said. "Sometimes the right decision isn't the easiest one. I went back and forth several times. This is probably the hardest thing I have had to do."
"We're disappointed," said 1st Ward Councilman Dale Depew, the Republican who has been on City Council the longest. "We appreciate Todd's work on council."
However, Depew said, "there are a lot of things more important than politics. You have to respect someone who's looked at it and can make that decision."
Council business prohibited Edmond from taking a more active role in school activities. While city council does good and important work, he said, "I love being with kids."
Edmond said he wants to use his time helping people more directly, something that is not always possible to do in a timely manner through City Council.
"I'm hoping the public understands," he said. "I don't want to let anyone down."
Depew said he would like to fill the seats from the the 3rd and 4th wards &emdash; 4th Ward Councilman Mike Grandillo will take over as council president from Keith Kirchner July 1 &emdash; by having interested individuals send their resumes to the clerk of council and then getting public input on who to select.