Mayor Announces Dashiell ‘Dash’ Harden as 2025 Kid Mayor, the First Boy to Hold the Position

TOLEDO, OH – Dashiell “Dash” Harden, a student from Monac Elementary, was announced as the 2025 Kid Mayor during a press conference on March 18. Harden, the first boy to hold the position, was selected after an impressive interview process, standing out from hundreds of applicants with his clever answers and confident presentation—complete with a suit!

As Kid Mayor, Harden will lead the 2025 Kid Council, a group of 12 other students from Washington Local and Toledo Public Schools. These students will represent their peers and take part in a variety of exciting events and community activities, all while learning about local government and civic engagement.

This year’s Kid Council members include:

Washington Local:
Violet Billingsley, Hiawatha Elementary School
Lexi Schonter, Meadowvale Elementary School
Ezra Eby, Meadowvale Elementary School
Savannah Squire, Shoreland Elementary School
Charlotte Shumway, Shoreland Elementary School

Toledo Public Schools:
Teighan Kozyra, Elmhurst Elementary School
Desmond Smoot Jr., DeVeaux Elementary School
Sophia Mitchell, Ella P. Stewart Academy for Girls
Airabella Jones, Marshall STEMM Academy
R'reiona Ragland, Marshall STEMM Academy
Julieann Schutt, Hawkins STEMM Academy
Josephine Huftalen Grazzini, Grove Patterson Academy

Throughout the year, Harden and the Kid Council will be involved in several hands-on activities. They’ll meet with city officials, present ideas to improve the community, and attend special events like a tour of the wood lot with the Department of Public Services, a scavenger hunt in downtown Toledo, and a tour of Firehouse #6.

The group will also serve as role models and participate in community projects such as joining the Litter League to help clean up the city.

This is the fourth year of the Kid Mayor program, which continues to inspire young leaders in our community. Previous Kid Mayors include Evelyn Bush, Gabrielle Mukiira, and Lillian Joseph.

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