City Councilmember Joel Servatius, first appointed in 2012, is being challenged by Shane Hoffmire for the position. Both have very firm positions on issues such as affordable housing, development codes, and the recent city staff turnover. The story by Emily Gilbert in the Whidbey News-Times provides a comprehensive look at...
The Oak Harbor City Council issued a lengthy motion that contained a long list of grievances in support of their vote of no confidence in City Administrator Blaine Oborn. The motion came following a two hour closed door executive session attended by Grant Weed, former city attorney and Anna Thompson,...
As Oak Harbor’s City Council election heats up, Emily Gilbert has the story on candidate endorsements by two prominent local officials. In the first endorsements of his political career, Oak Harbor Mayor Bob Severns… endorsed Shane Hoffmire, who is challenging Councilmember Joel Servatius in the November general election. The mayor...
Two members of the City’s legal department have resigned, citing a “compromised working relationship” with City Administrator Blaine Oborn and HR Director Emma House. City Attorney Grant Weed and Assistant City Attorney and Public Records Officer Anna Thompson both resigned the same day. For the details, see the writeup by...
Oak Harbor City Councilmembers Tara Hizon, Erica Wasinger, Millie Goebel, Jeffrey Mack, Joel Servatius, Beth Munns, and Jim Woessner After months of controversy, Oak Harbor City Councilmembers approved two agreements that effectively mean the “Angel de la Creatividad” sculpture will be placed in Windjammer Park. The council voted 4-1 to...
Candidates for the Oak Harbor City Council weighed in on the pending City Council vote on whether or not to accept the gift of the bright-red abstract depiction of an angel that will cost the City $35,000 to install. A recent public survey indicated a 70% opposition rate to accepting...
A proposal for a city staff survey that caught Oak Harbor leadership off guard has mysteriously disappeared. Councilmember Beth Munns announced last November that the city council had developed a survey to take the “pulse” of city staff due to concerns over morale, transparency, and the quality of supervision. At...
Oak Harbor Council Member Joel Servatius resolved an apparent conflict of interest or violation of campaign laws by paying the entrance fee to the Chamber of Commerce’s 4th of July Parade. The Chamber gave out free spots to city council members as well as the mayor and other politicians. However,...
