Judging from the results of a special meeting Monday, Oak Harbor City Council members will have a tough time choosing whom to appoint to an empty seat.

Using a straw-poll, council members selected three of the five applicants for the position to move on.

Erica Wasinger, Jes Walker-Wyse and Skip Pohtilla will be interviewed by council and a finalist will likely be appointed during the Jan. 19 meeting.

“I’m really impressed with the people who came forward,” Councilwoman Tara Hizon said. “I think any one of them would be outstanding, which is a great problem to have, I guess.”

Bob Severns left behind the open seat on the council when he took over as the city’s mayor in the new year.

Whoever is appointed will fill the remaining two years left of Severn’s term.

Narrowing the field of candidates was done efficiently. The council members didn’t discuss the qualifications of the five applicants but instead each stated their “top three” candidates — based on the resumes and application information.

Wasinger, Walker-Wyse and Pohtilla each were on five “top 3” lists, which could foretell a split decision for the council.

Aaron Taggert, a newcomer to city politics, and Bob Morrison, a former councilman, were eliminated from consideration.

Wasinger is a member of the city’s Parks Board, serves on both the Oak Harbor Education Foundation and the North Whidbey Little League, and was the campaign manager for Severns’ successful mayoral campaign. She is the co-owner of a real estate business.

Walker-Wyse is a member of the city’s planning commission, the branch manager of Peoples Bank’s Oak Harbor Financial Center, a former employee in the city’s finance department and a Navy veteran.

Skip Pohtilla is a retired Navy lieutenant commander, a former property manager and a volunteer who has been involved in many community activities, including the Arts Commission, North Whidbey Community Harvest and Driftwood Day.

Pohtilla unsuccessfully ran against Councilman Jim Campbell.