OAK HARBOR CITY COUNCIL: Council will appoint short-term replacement [VIDEO] (WNT)
Rachel Rosen reports in the Whidbey News Times from the Oak Harbor City Council meeting of Tue., Apr. 18, 2023.
Due to the resignation of Dan Evans, Oak Harbor City Council must appoint someone to fill the vacancy only until Nov. 28, unless he or she runs and is elected in the Nov. 7 election.
At Tuesday’s city council meeting, City Administrator Blaine Oborn said that council has 90 days to fill the vacancy. Evans resigned from his position April 5. His term would have ended on Dec. 31, 2025.
The person appointed by council will serve until Nov. 28, when the votes for the municipal general election are certified. The person who is elected to position No. 4 will fill the remaining term through Dec. 31, 2025.
This is the third time in three years council has had to appoint someone to a seat due to a resignation.
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They Said It
Councilmember Bryan Stucky said he was concerned about the “extremely awkward timing.”
“I would love for somebody who decided to go for this to also be running,” he said. “I personally don’t like the idea of somebody just being a temporary six-month candidate.”
Stucky said a question should be added to the application which asks if the candidate intends to run in the election.
Mayor Pro Tem Tara Hizon said the council might be giving a candidate an unfair advantage in the election by appointing him or her as a candidate.
Councilmember Eric Marshall said he was also concerned an appointment could be a “de facto endorsement.”
“It’s a pretty unprecedented situation,” Hizon said. “It’ll be interesting to see how it pans out.”
| 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. |
