A trio of Oak Harbor City Council members has been tasked with whittling down the applicant pool vying for open an council seat.

The unanticipated opening occurred when Council member Sheilah Crider resigned Jan. 28 to accept the position of Island County Auditor.

City Administrator Paul Schmidt recommended Tuesday appointing the subgroup to expedite the process. Councilmen Rick Almberg, Jim Campbell and Eric Gerber, the group that makes up the new governmental services standing committee, volunteered for the undertaking.

The council was amenable to the time line Schmidt suggested. Once the committee finishes reviewing the applications and shortens the list to three, the entire council will have the option at its March 4 meeting of convening in executive session to dissect the qualifications and generate a list of pros and cons.

The public will be able to watch the interview process at the March 18 meeting. The council will ideally elect an applicant following interviews.

“Hopefully that person’s there, we swear them in and they take their seat on the council that night,” Schmidt said Friday.

The person chosen for the nonpartisan position will serve in that capacity until the next general election in 2009.

The application period is now open and being advertised in the newspaper and on the city’s Web site at www.oakharbor.org. All interested registered voters who have resided within the city for at least one year need to submit a letter of interest and list of qualifications by Feb 22. Information can be sent by mail to Connie Wheeler, City Clerk, City of Oak Harbor, 865 S.E. Barrington Drive, Oak Harbor, WA 98277 or by email to cwheeler@oakharbor.org.