Debbie Kann appointed to vacant Council seat after four residents interview

Tyrone Borough Council filled its vacant seat on February 9, 2026, appointing resident Debbie Kann after a public interview process that drew four applicants. Solicitor Stants distributed and collected written ballots from the seated members, Mrs. Kann was selected, and she was sworn in and seated that same evening.

How the seat was filled

Under Tyrone’s Home Rule Charter, a midterm vacancy on Council is filled by the remaining members rather than by a special election. When a seat opens between elections, the sitting members choose a qualified borough resident to serve, and the appointee fills out the unexpired term. That keeps Council at its full complement of seven without leaving residents in a district unrepresented while a vote is organized.

For this vacancy, Council opened the process to the public. Four residents put their names forward — Debbie Kann, Craig Burket, Paul Erb, and Jennifer Bryan — and each was interviewed before the members made their decision. With more candidates than the single open seat, the Solicitor handed out written ballots, collected them, and tallied the result. Mrs. Kann won the appointment with four votes. Because the choice was made by secret written ballot, individual members’ votes were not recorded by name in the minutes.

Sworn in the same night

Once the ballot was decided, Solicitor Stants administered the Oath of Office and Mrs. Kann took her seat, giving Council a full board for the business that followed. As an appointed member she has the same voting authority and responsibilities as her elected colleagues, and her name will appear in the roll-call record going forward.

Council meets on the second Monday of each month at the Borough Office, 1100 Logan Avenue, and meetings are open to the public.

On record: the interviews, ballot, and oath are documented in the public meeting record at the Borough Office, 1100 Logan Avenue. For more on how Council is organized, see Borough Council and the Borough’s administration pages, or read Article III (Council) of the Tyrone Borough Home Rule Charter at ecode360.com/TY1357.