Council President Rich Focht tests positive for COVID-19; Gillig selected as president pro tempore

Tiffin, Ohio — Tiffin City Council President Rich Focht has tested positive for COVID-19.

During Monday evening’s Tiffin City Council committee of the whole meeting, Law Director Brent Howard announced that Focht tested positive for the novel coronavirus and is currently recovering at home after a short hospitalization.

“He tested positive, he experienced some symptoms. They were such that he went to the hospital for a couple days, at Mercy Hospital. I’m happy to report that he’s home now,” Howard said. “He came home on Friday.”

Howard said Focht wanted to pass along his gratitude to all the employees at Tiffin Mercy Hospital.

“He said it’s truly remarkable, and we’re very fortunate to have Mercy Hospital in our community,” Howard said. “But Rich is still recovering, and is not able to attend tonight’s meeting.”

Due to the former president pro tempore of council, Tyler Shuff, resigning earlier this month to take on his new role as a Seneca County Commissioner, at-large Councilman Ben Gillig was selected by his fellow council members Monday evening to preside over the chamber and serve as the new president pro tempore, temporarily taking Focht’s place in his absence.