Still fresh in office, car salesman turned politico talks plans for the city’s waterfront, time with the grandkids & life as a tree
Just six months into his job as mayor, and Jim Slowik appears to be living up to his campaign backers’ predictions.
“You know, we have four new members of City Council that have five months or less of experience,” he said. “The hard work they go through to make the right decisions, to learn the issues, is incredible.”
It appears as if the days of council contention and division are gone, as Slowik is ableto strike a perfect balance of rule that leaves everyone feeling heard and understood.
Too good to be true? Maybe. But in his core he is a man who likes balance.
Take a recent lunch, at which OH Magazine contributor Jill Johnson and Slowik sat down for sushi and the mayor ordered two sushi rolls — with no hint of raw fish.
“I like my sushi cooked,” he laughed.
To balance his safe choice, he applied his wasabi directly and generously.
“I like the heat.”
Wanting to go beyond sushi eating habits, OH Magazine chose Slowik to be its first Q&A “hot seat” subject. So read on, and get to know the new mayor a little more.
OH: Why did you decide to run for Mayor?
JS: I was worried about the direction of the city. I knew that the city conducted business and I was good at business. And having been exposed to the school district I watched how business was conducted there and I felt that it was done in a very efficient way. So I thought I could make a difference. And I find I was right. Good business practices work in any setting.
OH: They call the first 90 days in office the honeymoon period. Is the honeymoon on or is it over?
JS: It’s still going. We’ve done quite a few things in the first five months we’ve been in office and some things we are very, very proud of.
OH: Like what?
JS: We went to Olympia and were able to convince the legislature (with the help of our local representatives) to help the City of Oak Harbor with the upgrading of the marina. That’s a positive thing. We also tackled the waterline downtown. That did two things. Frst is upgrading the waterline that was put in in 1928. In some places the minute they uncovered the line it would spring a leak because the pressure of the dirt was the only thing holding the line together. And two, it gave us an opportunity to communicate with downtown merchants and improve our communication techniques.
OH: Most folks have imagined what they would do if they were mayor. What has been your biggest misconception of the job?
JS: I’m still in the honeymoon period so I’m knocking on wood, but I expected more criticism and I haven’t been criticized very much yet. But, I’m not complaining (laughs) I am sure it’ll pick up after this.
OH: So you’re looking for more criticism?
JS: Well I don’t take criticism personally. I think we need to hear it so we can see the other side of the issues. So I would like to see alternate views to some of these issues that we take on. So yes, I would like to hear something from the critics.
OH: Describe Oak Harbor in three words.
JS: A beautiful, friendly, mariner community.
OH: Mariner, that’s an interesting choice.
JS: If you think about it, whether you’re on a boat or on the shores of Windjammer Park, the crown jewel of Oak Harbor is our low-bank waterfront. And I think a lot of us, if we closed our eyes and thought about our town, we would see that. That’s the beauty of Oak Harbor, the harbor itself.
OH: You are known for being a big reader. What are you reading today?
JS: A book about the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold. It was sold through Christie’s auction house for $156,000 to Malcolm Forbes. And the question is whether it was a fraudulent bottle of wine.
OH: $156,000?
JS: It was supposedly a bottle of wine that Thomas Jefferson purchased in 1787. So it’s a pretty interesting story.
OH: Would you ever pay that much for a bottle of wine?
JS: Of course not! (Laughs) No, no, no. But it’s interesting that people will.
OH: What book has influenced you the most?
JS: That’s hard to say. love reading books about our great presidents. I think Lincoln’s life is maybe the thing that influenced me the most. How he had the strength to make decisions that completely changed the direction of the nation. So when people say you can’t change that person, or you can’t effect change, I know that’s not true. You can influence change; all you have to do is try.
OH: Tell me about your typical workday?
JS: Well there isn’t a typical workday. My wife, Candy, and I start each day at the gym. It’s a good healthy way to go. It helps with the stress of the job and it is a chance for me to spend time with my wife every single day on a good level.
OH: Do you have a vision for Oak Harbor’s waterfront?
JS: It’s really a community vision. One of the things that is obvious is that we have to improve our marina, and the other is that we need to keep as much of the waterfront as possible available for public use.
OH: Fishing or crabbing?
JS: I like both.
OH: Sailing or power boating?
JS: Power!
OH: Favorite place for a Friday night dinner?
JS: Oak Harbor
OH: (laughs) Do you want to get more specific than that?
JS: Well we go to a lot of the local, smaller, family-run restaurants. Candy and I have about five or six restaurants we like to go to and they all serve delicious food. don’t think I could pick one over the others.
OH: Best place for a power lunch?
JS: I don’t do a power lunch. I like to have a quiet lunch. One place that I like to go to is San Remo’s, right across from my car lot. It’s close by and it’s nice and quite, and they don’t get mad at me if I take too long.
OH: Describe your perfect Oak Harbor day?
JS: A day when I have some success at the city and success at the car lot. It’s one where I have a chance to work out at the health club and a day that my wife and I can spend together and share some time. Oh, and I’d like to get some time with my grandkids thrown in there too.
OH: What do your grandkids like to do when they are in town?
JS: Oh man, they love coming over because we spoil them! They are 2, 3, 4 and 5 years old. They like the parades, all our special events, and they like to go downtown to Paint Your World and create little things. These are only things they do in Oak Harbor. They wouldn’t have those moments if we lived anywhere else.
OH: Are they excited that you are the mayor?
JS: I don’t know, only the older ones understand. They like to be in the parade. That’s what it’s all about for them.
OH: If you could change places with any modern day leader, who would it be?
JS: I’m such a local guy, I love Oak Harbor and I think it’s such a great community. I just don’t think I would trade being mayor for any other job.
OH: How about a historical leader?
JS: Well it would have to be an American leader. (Pauses) I would pick a modern American President like Reagan, Truman or Eisenhower.
OH: I have always wanted to be Barbara Walters so here’s my shot. If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?
JS: A Garry oak of course
OH: Of course
