Tiffin City Council sees changes

Tiffin, Ohio — Tiffin City Council met Tuesday and rang in the new year with a new president, a new member, and an open position.

Bridget Boyle, who has served on council since being appointed to represent the First Ward in 2019, was elected to Council President in 2021, with a term starting Jan. 1. She was sworn in by Law Director Brent Howard in a ceremony outside the Seneca County Justice Center on Dec. 22, 2021.

Boyle moved to the Tiffin area to attend Tiffin University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and played volleyball. She currently works in the finance industry.

“Becoming Tiffin City Council President is quite the honor, especially to be elected as the first female for this role. Tiffin is very special to me – although I was not born and raised here, I feel this is where I ‘grew up.’ When I came to Tiffin to attend college, I instantly fell in love with the town, mostly due to the warm welcoming I received from the community,” Boyle said. “When I graduated, my choice to stay in Tiffin came very easily as I made some of my greatest memories and accomplishments here in which I will always treasure. Although I am blessed to have the opportunity to serve on City Council, I underestimated how gratifying it is. Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this journey, I look forward to our continued success as a community.”

Boyle’s vacant seat will be filled by a nomination from the Seneca County Republican Central Committee.

As well as the change in roles for Boyle, council has a new member following the election of Jeff Rhoades to an at-large seat.

Rhoades has been the director of Campus Safety & Security at Heidelberg University since 2010. He is a 1995 Heidelberg graduate, having earned a bachelor’s in business administration and a master’s degree in justice administration from Tiffin University in 2001.

Rhoades said, “I am honored to be joining the Tiffin City Council and I look forward to learning from all of the great members. I ran for City Council to prove to myself that I could win and that I could win without any help or any political affiliation. I appreciate what the mayor and City Council has accomplished and I want to see the progress continue. I am and will always be a strong advocate of our police and fire departments. I would like to thank everyone that voted and voted for me, and I only hope that I can live up to the expectations.”

Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz commented: “I’m excited for Bridget in her new position as Council President and look forward to having Jeff on council.”