After receiving seven applications for the open Oak Harbor City Council seat, council members have whittled the competition to four to be interviewed at next week’s meeting.

Shane Hoffmire, who held Position 5 since January 2022, announced his resignation last month and has since moved to Peoria, Illinois. The position runs through December of next year.

The four candidates the council selected for interviews are James Marrow, James Croft, Tiffany Scribner and Sandi Peterson.

Marrow serves on the Oak Harbor planning commission, the Oak Harbor Main Street board and the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce board. He recently stepped down as the chair of the North Whidbey Pool, Park and Recreation District commission to campaign for a district resturcturing that never made it to the ballot.

Marrow served over 25 years in the Navy. His focuses for the city include economic development, homelessness and recreational services.

Croft, an Oak Harbor High School graduate, owns The Roller Barn and Toppins Frozen Yogurt and manages the Home Depot. He values government transparency, sustainable development and public safety.

Scribner is the program manager for Leadership Whidbey and serves as chair of the salary commission. She points to affordable housing, infrastructure and economic development as her main focuses for Oak Harbor.

Peterson co-founded Civility First, a bipartisan political organization, was a former campaign manager and works in the auditor’s office during elections. She also serves as chair of the civil service commission.

Her priorities include public safety, government efficiency and economic development.

Meredith Acosta, the marketing coordinator for the Chamber of Commerce, Andrea Lentz, a self-employed digital marketer, and Earl “Andy” Plumlee, owner of Popsies, didn’t make the cut.

Plumlee, who recently stepped down from the planning commission, ran for city council before, losing the bid to Councilmember Christopher Wiegenstein last year.

Councilmember Jim Woessner said he would be willing to interview all seven applicants.

“Wow, seven people,” he said. “When we have an election where we’re lucky to get two running for a position, three is a pretty huge year, so I think the city, we should all be pretty honored each of these people stepped forward.”

He encouraged those who didn’t get called for an interview to keep up the work.

“Continue being an advocate for the city,” he said. “Continue to step forward. We have commissions. We have all sorts of ways you can help at the city and continue your advocacy, and gosh, what an honor for us to have seven really strong candidates.”

The newest Oak Harbor council member will be decided at the Tuesday, Dec. 17 meeting after an executive session.

Sandi Peterson

James Croft

James Marrow