TIFFIN - The filing deadline for the spring primary is nearly three months away but the field for mayor of Tiffin already promises to be a crowded, yet youthful one.

Five candidates, three of whom are in their 20s, have taken out petitions with the Seneca County Board of Elections to fill the seat that will be vacated by three-term incumbent Bernard Hohman.

Chad Kirchner, 23; Nathan Mowery, 20, and Dawn Iannantuono, 47, are the three Democratic hopefuls to date, while the Republican field is expected to include Aaron Montz, 21, and businessman James Boroff.

Feb. 22 is the filing deadline to run in the May 8 primary. Candidates need 50 valid signatures on their nominating petitions.

Mr. Kirchner, a self-proclaimed political junkie who attends Tiffin University, said he was involved in student government all four years at Seneca East High School in Republic.

Mr. Kirchner said he will focus on the city's economy with a goal of involving the city's two colleges (Tiffin University and Heidelberg College) in furthering opportunities for young people.He chose to run for mayor in his first bolt out of the election gate because "I don't believe there's much influence in a city council position," he said.

He's an assistant manager for a pizza shop, where he's worked for seven years.He hopes his grass-roots campaign can generate $20,000.

Mr. Mowery is a student at Terra State Community College in Fremont, where he is studying web design and business management.

According to his Web site, "The only improvements that there have been is repaving of the roads" in the past four years.

To run the city successfully costs money, he said, coming out in front on the need for more tax revenue.

If elected, he said, "I will only implement a 0.5 percent sales tax increase (which is not much in the long run) during the four years in office."

The third Democratic challenger is Ms. Iannantuono. She owns an interior design business and serves as president of the Tiffin schools' board of education.

Despite his youth, Mr. Montz has experience running for pubic office. His first bid was the 2003 mayoral race as an 18-year-old high school student. He lost to Mr. Hohman, who was completing his second term. In addition to holding the mayoral office, Mr. Hohman had served 20 years on City Council.

Also planning for a run as a Republican is Mr. Boroff, a city councilman and chairman and president of Boroff Publication Services. The 4th Ward councilman was first elected in 2000.

First Published December 5, 2006, 11:14 a.m.