Tyler Titus will control the gavel for Erie City Council in 2026.
Titus — a Democrat and former Erie School director elected to City Council in 2023 — on Jan. 7 was unanimously elected to lead the seven-member City Council during the next 12 months.
Titus, 41, is a one-time Erie County executive candidate who became the first openly transgender person elected to public office in Pennsylvania by winning an Erie School Board seat in 2017. Titus, who uses they/them pronouns, served as City Council’s vice president in 2025.
“I am deeply hopeful and honored that you all have entrusted me to serve as City Council president,” Titus said. “For those of us who are being told, especially by our federal government right now, that we don’t belong — I want you to know we as council hear you, we as council see you and we as council are here to serve and uplift you.”
Tyler Titus.
The meeting was council’s first regular session of 2026.
It was also the first meeting for the panel’s newest members, Andre Horton and Marilyn Pol, who were elected in November; as well as the first attended by new Erie Mayor Daria Devlin and another Democrat, first-term City Controller Brooke Sanfilippo.
Previous coverage: Erie’s new mayor, Daria Devlin, takes over after swearing-in ceremony
Councilwoman Kathy Schaaf was elected City Council vice president for 2026.
Sworn in: Erie City Council sets 2026 lineup as new members take office
Mel Witherspoon, a longtime City Council member who retired from politics in December, served as council’s president in 2025. Councilwoman Kathy Schaaf was elected vice president for 2026.
Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@timesnews.com. Follow him on X at@ETNflowers.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie City Council elects Tyler Titus as president