Rachel Rosen reports in the Whidbey News-Times from the Oak Harbor City Council workshop on Wed., Jan. 25, 2023.4
Oak Harbor City Council is considering adopting something that they are currently lacking – a code of ethics and conduct.
During a workshop meeting last week, the city attorney responded to the council’s earlier concerns and questions about potential conflicts of interest with some options. Council members expressed a range of opinions about the idea of setting ethical standards for themselves and ultimately decide to consider a policy for responding to ethics complaints against council members.
They Said It
Mayor Pro Tem Tara Hizon asked for a clearer explanation of when council members should abstain from voting, as she believed a lot of what council votes on “could potentially financially benefit some of our employers.”
Councilmember Shane Hoffmire said he thought the state already had restrictive enough rules for council members in place.
“I think this council is doing a pretty good job of regulating itself and I don’t know that it would be the best use of time,” he said.
Councilmember Beth Munns agreed but said “as the city grows, maybe it would be more important.”
Councilmember Jim Woessner said the city needed a process for what takes place when someone files an ethics complaint against a council member and that it should apply to boards and commissions as well.
Councilmember Bryan Stucky said that while people can be critical of council decisions, he has seen members of the city’s boards and commissions make “personal attacks” against council members on social media.
Hizon said she would like to see ethics guidelines as part of the council’s rules and procedures.
“I would probably prefer to have it just as a resolution or a policy attached to our rules and procedures as opposed to part of a code,” she said.
Councilmember Eric Marshall said he would also like to see a code of ethics as a resolution and proposed that board members should be removed if they violate a rule.
On the Ballot in November 2023
| CITY OF OAK HARBOR |
| City Council: Four of five council positions are on the ballot. Position 1: Tara Hizon Councilwoman Hizon filed with the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) to run for re-election. Position 2: Beth Munns Christopher Wiegenstein, a commissioner with the North Whidbey Pool, Park and Recreation District, filed with the Public Disclosure Commission in April to run for a City Council seat, but did not specify which position. During Filing Week, he filed to run for this seat. Former mayoral candidate Patrick Harman and Andy Plumlee, who was not selected for the Position 4 vacancy, have also filed for this seat. Position 3: Eric Marshall. Councilman Marshall was appointed after the resignation of Jeff Mack. This election will be for the remainder of Mack’s full term, which ends Dec. 31, 2023, and the succeeding four-year full term, which ends Dec. 31, 2027. Position 4: Christopher Wiegenstein Councilman Wiegenstein was appointed after the resignation of Dan Evans. This election will be for the remainder of Evans’ full term, which ends Dec. 31, 2025. announced his intention to apply for vacancy and run for the council on Apr. 28, 2023. Three of the shortlisted applicants, Barbara Armes, John Chaszar, and Wismine D’Avilar, have filed to run for the seat. |
| Mayor: Bob Severns Mayor Severns announced that he will not run for another term. Craig Nurvic, Councilman Shane Hoffmire, Oak Harbor businessmen Ronnie Wright and Nick Green filed to run during Filing Week. |
