There’s a new program on Channel 10 starring city officials, staff members and well-known community members.

Each half-hour installment of “Municipal Issues on Oak Harbor TV” will focus on a different topic. Last week Mayor Jim Slowik and City Administrator Paul Schmidt sat down for an episode on the upcoming Oak Harbor Marathon, which is now owned by the city.

Only four shows into the Municipal Issues series, the mayor’s earned the title of “one take wonder.”

Angie Homola, Island County commissioner, starred in the first 30-minute show, which was more of a report on the county budget than a sit-down interview.

Steve Powers spoke on the topic of the subdivision code for the second taping.

The third installment involved a panel discussion with Gary Jackson, Pastor Fannie Dean, the Reverend Ozell Jackson, Lionel Peoples, Sr., and Chester Reaves on racial tolerance in honor of Black History Month.

Jim Riney films each program the day after the City Council meetings with new equipment provided by Comcast as part of the company’s franchise agreement with the city. The city also replaced TV equipment for Oak Harbor High School Wildcat TV under the same contract, said Schmidt.

Each council member has the opportunity to be featured in a show, said executive assistant Renee Recker. More than half the council has signed up and all have expressed interest, she said.

The next segment is an update on the Oak Harbor Street construction, moderated by City Engineer Eric Johnston.

Recker said Municipal Issues is a way to let the public in on the background information on current city projects, but it’ll also be a way to enrich the Oak Harbor community through the historical perspectives of longtime Whidbey Island residents. Future shows will cover the fire and police department annual reports and changes in city utility rates, she said, adding that viewers are welcome to call in and suggest topics.

Call 279-4502 or send an email to mayor@oakharbor.org.