Nobody said life as Oak Harbor’s mayor would be dull.

Bob Severns spent last weekend presenting a trophy at a car show, taking a spin in a hydroplane around Oak Harbor Bay, then shaking hands and visiting with folks in between bites at the Oak Harbor Pigfest.

A day later, his “work week” started.

“Somebody asked me the other day, ‘Is being the mayor a full-time job?’” Severns said. “I didn’t answer the question very well at the time.”

In short: Without question.

“I MIGHT not be sitting at my desk at the city,” Severns said. “I might be at a luncheon, or out.

“It’s a good job. It’s a fun job. It’s exciting at times.”

Severns attended another public engagement Thursday, delivering his first “State of the City” address with Oak Harbor chamber luncheon attendees.

He covered aspects of the city ranging from the close monitoring of the massive wastewater treatment project to encouraging news about public safety, and shared highlights from the journey of his first seven-and-a-half months on the job.

“My campaign was about working together,” Severns said. “I gave myself six months to try to reconnect as best as I could with our partners, with as many people as I can, especially NAS Whidbey.”

THE FORMER city councilman and retired title company president said he meets monthly with various community leaders, including the commanding officer at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and superintendent of Oak Harbor Public Schools, as well as representatives with the Oak Harbor Library and the city’s Skagit Valley College campus.

He thanked Sen. Barbara Bailey and Congressman Rick Larsen, who attended Thursday’s luncheon, for helping strengthen the city’s relationship with the Navy.

Severns said he also wanted to recognize the increased number of volunteers in the community whom he’s noticed are eager to help in any way at civic events.

THE SUPPORT doesn’t surprise Christine Cribb, the chamber’s executive director and a close friend of Severns.

“I think for such a short time in office, he’s done an incredible job of turning around the morale at city hall, to turning around the energy in the community,” Cribb said.

“When he presents, it’s so incredibly professional. You believe in what he’s doing.”

Severns’ short stint as mayor hasn’t come without his share of hard decisions or controversy.

He conducted an extensive investigation into problems at the police department that led to Chief Ed Green resigning in May as part of a separation agreement.

He had reprimanded Green in March for leaving his handgun in a grocery store restroom.

DURING THE transition to interim police department administrator Terry Gallagher, Severns said he was apprised of better news. Gallagher pointed out that Oak Harbor, a city of more than 22,000, only gets about half the number of police calls as Port Angeles, a town of about 19,000.

Gallagher formerly served as police chief in Port Angeles.

The comparison is similar to that of Anacortes as well, Severns said.

“He’d only been here about a month and he came in one day and said, ‘You know, you’ve got kind of a sleepy little community here,’” Severns said. “And I thought about that. And after a few minutes, I thought, ‘I think that’s a pretty nice compliment.’”

Severns called such statistics “bragging rights” for the city. He also lauded the fire department over its sub-5-minute response times in the city.

SEVERNS SAID he’s ready to start placing his focus on economic development within the city.

“I have a history with that,” he said, noting his experience in the title insurance and banking industries.

“I have 42 years of business (experience) here in Oak Harbor. I want to spend a lot of my next six months working on plans and visions in that area.”

And, he said, his excitement isn’t just lip service.

“You hear a lot of people in council or mayoral (positions) talking about trying to do better in the economic develpment area,” Severns said. “I really think I can.”

“I know enough about Oak Harbor,” he said. “I know how to sell. I know how to connect. And I have the greatest wife — she does all that better than I do. I think that’s the lucky thing for me is I’ve got a great companion.”

FOLLOWING HIS State of the City presentation Thursday, Severns visited with several community members. He’s always fielding questions that range from the homeless issue in the city, areas of traffic concern, the housing shortage and the wastewater treatment plant project that he calls the biggest project the city has ever taken on, among others.

He was getting ready to interview candidates Friday for the police chief position. He has ideas for the senior center that could involve a new name and purpose.

He said he’s looking forward to meeting again with Capt. Geoffrey Moore to talk about Moore’s plan to address traffic that often backs up entering the Seaplane Base.

Life as mayor is never dull.

“I DO love this city,” said Severns, an Oak Harbor resident for 42 years.

“I think we’ve got great opportunities coming up. It’s a safe place to live,” He said. “It’s a beautiful place to live.”

Severns experienced a rare opportunity to enjoy Oak Harbor’s beauty from the cockpit of a hydroplane Saturday.

He survived two laps at about 85 mph.

He told his wife, Rhonda, he would wave as they zipped by the marina, but with no seatbelt and nothing but the dashboard to hold on to, that wave was, at best, a half-hearted effort.

“I needed both hands,” he said, “but it was a blast.”